Cristiano Ronaldo has sparked huge controversy after he gave an interview to British broadcaster Piers Morgan, in which he slammed his current club employers Manchester United. Ronaldo missed United’s last game before heading into the World Cup break, a 2-1 win over Fulham due to illness. However, a day after United’s narrow win, their no.7 dropped a bombshell interview, wherein he accused them of “betraying” him. The 37-year-old also had a go at the Red Devils’ manager Erik ten Hag, who according to him doesn’t respect him.
The fans and pundits have already picked their sides in this open battle now, as former Italy striker Antonio Cassano has come down heavily on the player. Cassano has joined the lot which has heavily criticised Ronaldo for acting ‘unprofessionally’ by giving the interview, which apparently was not authorised by the club. The Portuguese has now reported at the national team’s camp in Qatar as they begin their preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has a disproportionate ego – Cassano
The tiff between Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United has evidently escalated out of the way now after he gave the interview. There was already a sense of conflict brewing between the player and the club, after the forward was finding himself out of the plans of new coach Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman, who took over the Red Devils’ job this summer has reduced Ronaldo’s role to a benchwarmer, starting him in just 4 of the club’s 14 league games.
Moreover, Cristiano bluntly refused to come on as a substitute during United’s league clash against Tottenham, and left for home snubbing Ten Hag’s post match talk, which further enraged the manager who dropped him from the squad completely for their next game against Chelsea. Things took a more wild turn after reports furled up the United boss wanted the club to get rid of their highest paid player, which was confirmed by the player himself in his interview to Morgan. Cassano bashed the Portugal captain for his comment, as told Bobo TV:
“Now I say that Ronaldo does not have the courage to admit that for three years he is no longer himself. This year he had to go to Sporting Lisbon and then quit after the World Cup. He’s a problem for the coaches, he puts his teammates in trouble. He didn’t even call [Karim] Benzema to congratulate him [on winning the Ballon d’Or].
“He has a blindfold in front of his eyes and thinks he can play until he’s 50. Dear Ronaldo, I tell you one thing: finish big with the World Cup. He can’t keep throwing tantrums and he can’t think he can still play at a high level. He has such a disproportionate ego, but he is not like [Lionel] Messi who can also play sitting down. He can’t physically cope anymore. He is confirming that he always puts his selfishness first.”
The big question now remains is what happens next at Old Trafford. United are yet to issue a response on the interview by their player, but have released a statement which said “the club will consider its response after the full facts have been established”. However, ESPN have reported that its the end of the road for the five-time Ballon d’or winner at Old Trafford as Ten Hag has asked the club to immediately offload him in January.
The report also added that many of the other senior players at United are ‘furious’ with Ronaldo’s comments, which they feel came at a wrong time. United had just earned a hard-fought victory over Fulham with an injury time winner from academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho, which the players feel got overshadowed by the Ronaldo headlines. And looking at his outburst against the club, it certainly seems Cristiano Ronaldo won’t play for Manchester United ever again.