Just when everybody had thought they would get a break from the Cristiano Ronaldo-Manchester United drama, the 37-year-old has dropped another bombshell on the club. United headed into the World Cup break on the back of a hard fought 2-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League, as Cristiano Ronaldo missed the game with ‘illness’. However, apparently the United No.7 was giving an unauthorised interview to Piers Morgan, wherein he accused the club as well as Ten Hag of “betraying” him.
The interview certainly gave a shocker to both United and their manager Erik ten Hag, as the fans now await of the club’s reaction to their star player’s interview. However, apart from a formal statement, United haven’t disclosed their stance on Ronaldo, but reports now tell that Ten Hag has had enough of the Portuguese international. With Ronaldo revealing he has ‘no respect’ whatsoever for his club manager, Ten Hag too has issued his response directly to the club owners.
Ten Hag wants United to show Cristiano Ronaldo exit doors
According to ESPN, Ten Hag is fuming at the moment after Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview and right away directed the club to get rid of him. The former Juventus forward already wanted leave in the summer due to many reasons, of which one was United missing out on Champions League qualification. A five-time winner of the elite European competition, Ronaldo searched for a new club all summer long, only to end up staying at Old Trafford.
Add to his frustration, Ten Hag has evidently cut short his role in the team and reduced it to a mere benchwarmer so far this season. Cristiano has started only 4 league games out of 10, and scored only a goal, achieving an unwanted record of worst start to a season he has had. Moreover, he also already has found himself at crossroads with Ten Hag two times since the Dutchman assumed his job in the summer. Ronaldo, in a public display of his frustration of regularly starting on the bench has refused to come on as a substitute [against Tottenham in the league] and twice snubbed Ten Hag’s post-match talks.
Ten Hag’s had enough of the Portugal captain’s antics, and tried his level best to keep calm amidst the boiling tempers. However, ESPN report the United manager has now run out of patience and erupted like a volcano after Ronaldo went ahead with the interview. Furthermore, the five-time Ballon d’Or also accused Ten Hag of not respecting him and the club trying to get rid of him. He could be seen telling Morgan in a snippet of the interview shared by the British broadcaster:
“Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club [wanted me gone]. I felt betrayed. I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year too. I don’t have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.
As the former Real Madrid forward himself wanted to move out in summer, Ten Hag now has asked United to grant him his wish now. The Dutchman has demanded the club either sell him in January or terminate his contract, as he has decided Ronaldo won’t be featuring in his team ever again. United are reportedly going to deduct his two weeks’ wages, but Ten Hag wants more than that and that is his departure.
ESPN also add that Ten Hag’s reason behind this drastic step is not only the interview, but also some of the club’s senior players are ‘furious’ as they feel Ronaldo timed his outburst badly, overshadowing their hard fought 2-1 win over Fulham which was sealed by an injury time winner by Alejandro Garnacho. All the happenings are indicating Ronaldo won’t play for Manchester United ever again and is likely to find himself a new home in January.