The story behind Cristiano Ronaldo and his separation with super-agent and close friend Jorge Mendes isn’t much talked about, but known to everybody since it all came down to the superstar player’s towering ego. Mendes had been working with Ronaldo since his Sporting Lisbon days, brokering moves to United, Real Madrid, Juventus as well as sealing that dramatic return to United again, while also sorting several lucrative contracts.
However, it is being reported by El Mundo that the professional ties between the two severed during Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United exit chapter, where he got sacked by the club after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. El Mundo adds, it was then that the 37-year-old ‘ordered’ Mendes to seal a move to either of Bayern Munich or Chelsea, and failure to do so saw Ronaldo fired his agent.
‘You are crazy’ – Mendes when Cristiano Ronaldo issued ultimatum over Bayern or Chelsea move
Things started breaking down between Cristiano Ronaldo and Jorge Mendes after the Portugal captain’s desire of leaving for a Champions League club went unfulfilled in the summer. Ronaldo had made all the arrangements to leave United, by not joining them for the pre-season under new manager Erik ten Hag, and even telling the club he wants to leave. However, it was Mendes who advised him against doing so.
Given the situation, Mendes encouraged Ronaldo to put stay at United, accept his position in Ten Hag’s team, and demonstrate his ability on the field when called upon. A successful season like the previous one, where he was the club’s topscorer, might have attracted Champions League teams to the table in the upcoming summer, or perhaps enticed United to activate the one-year contract extension.
However, according to El Mundo, Ronaldo straightforward issued an ultimatum to Mendes, telling him, “You either get me Bayern or Chelsea, or we’re through”. Mendes couldn’t believe his client’s words and rather replied with, “you are crazy”. That was it as Ronaldo stayed at United, and was reduced to a bench role by Ten Hag. Ronaldo only started in the Europa League games, the very reason he wanted to leave United.
Furthermore, it also being reported that Mendes already had some differences with his most important client, when back in 2018, Ronaldo decided to leave Real Madrid for Juventus. It is understood that Mendes had strongly advised the five-time Ballon d’Or winner against it, but his words fell on deaf ears. And in the summer of 2022, last straw fell on camel’s back after Mendes grew frustrated over Ronaldo for refusing to acknowledge that he could not join a team in Europe if he left United.
While Chelsea and Bayern both had shown interest initially, they backed-off later onwards. Chelsea’s new owner Todd Boehly eyed Ronaldo as his ‘statement signing’, only for then manager Thomas Tuchel to reject the idea. Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn too revealed later that the club did not materialise on a move after holding internal discussions since the signing did not “fit our philosophy”.