The veteran Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, made fiery statements in a television interview in which he attacked his club and coach Eric Ten Hag and complained of being "betrayed", and attacked the club and the coach in a way that does not care about the consequences, which paves the way for his departure after the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo returned to United for a second term at Old Trafford from Juventus in August 2021 with a two-year contract, after he helped the team win eight major titles between 2003-2009.
The Portuguese star may have played his last game for United already after missing the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
A few hours after the match, he said in an interview with journalist Piers Morgan on "Tok TV" on Sunday, "I feel betrayed and that there are people who do not want me here, not only this year but also last year."
"I feel betrayed".
Cristiano Ronaldo.@PiersUncensored 🚨🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/VJ2FO84SVA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 13, 2022
"Not only the coach, but two or three people around the club wanted me to leave," he added.
Last month, Ronaldo refused to be a substitute against Tottenham and walked towards the tunnel minutes before the end of the match after leaving the bench.
He was not part of the squad that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.
"I feel betrayed."
EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo tells Piers Morgan he feels like he's being forced out of Manchester United in an explosive interview.
90 Minutes with Ronaldo.
Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano |
@piersmorgan |
@TalkTV |
#PMU pic.twitter.com/nqp4mcXHB0
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
Ronaldo: I don't respect him because he doesn't respect me
Regarding his relationship with coach Ten Hag, Ronaldo said, "I do not respect him because he did not respect me."
The player, who will lead Portugal in the World Cup next week, indicated that he did not find "sympathy" and the club questioned him during the illness of his daughter last July, adding that he was unable to join the team in the pre-season because he wanted to stay by her side.
Reuters was not immediately available for comment from United.
zero evolution
The former Real Madrid scorer lamented "United's lack of progress" since coach Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Ronaldo played under Ferguson in his first spell.
He explained, "Zero development since the departure of Sir Alex, I have not found any progress in the club and nothing has changed. He (Ferguson) knows more than anyone that the club is not in the position it deserves. He knows as well as everyone knows, whoever does not see it either does not want to Seeing that, they are blind."
"Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero."
Don't miss Piers Morgan's 90 Minutes with Ronaldo.
Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano |
@piersmorgan |
@TalkTV |
#PMU pic.twitter.com/VextyEu7f9
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
He also criticized the club's decision last season to replace coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former team-mate, Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick left his position as director of sports and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow to move to Manchester.
"After the club sacked Ole, they brought in a sporting director, Ralph Rangnick, and no one understood that," Ronaldo said.
"I think the fans know the truth, I want the best for the club, which is why I came to Manchester United."
"But there are some things inside that do not help us reach the level of City, Liverpool or Arsenal at the moment, a club of this size should be at the top in my opinion."
🚨 Cristiano Ronaldo going in on Rangnick, the way things haven't changed since the last time he wasn't here…😭😭 pic.twitter.com/CYkG8Thjbi
— 𝗧 𝗻 𝗱 🇱 🇱 (@TenHagBalI) November 13, 2022