Cristiano Ronaldo in a fiery interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan has lambasted Manchester United for failing to change and improve since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club, ESPN’s Rob Dawson reported.
Ronaldo called out the Premier League giants for being “blind” to the fact that the club is not on the right path and that zero progress has been made at United.
“The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. He [Ferguson] knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be.
“He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that. It’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind.”
“I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the Club. But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) reach the top level as City, Liverpool, and even Arsenal.”
He also went on to claim that some people at United didn’t want him to stay at the club this season and that it was them along with Ten Hag who tried to push him out of the door this season.
“Not only the manager but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed. I don’t care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn’t want me here, not only this year but last season too.”
Ronaldo also took on the current Manchester United manager Eric Ten Hag by claiming that he hasn’t respected him enough and hence he has reciprocated the same attitude towards him.
“I don’t have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Ronaldo said, “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.” Ronaldo also didn’t shy away from bashing United’s appointment of Ralf Ragnick on an interim basis last season. “A big club like United brought a sporting director (as a manager). He is not even a coach. I had never heard of him”.
Ronaldo Reacts To Rooney’s Comments
Continuing his rant further, the five-time Balon D Or winner also responded to former teammate and ex-Manchester United star Wayne Rooney’s recent criticism of him, Fabrizio Ramano reported. “I don’t know why he criticizes me so badly…. probably because he finished his career and I am still playing at A high level. I am not going to say that I look better than him, which is true…”
Cristiano Ronaldo update suggests he may have played his final game for Man Utd
The Whole Story
The interview with Pierce Morgan comes against the backdrop of a turbulent season for Cristiano Ronaldo. After being the standout performer for United last season despite the club’s underwhelming campaign, reports suggested that the player wanted out in July. He missed the whole pre-season and has been used sparingly by the new manager Eric Ten Hag. The relationship between him and the coach reached a low point after Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in a league match and left the field before the game concluded. He was widely criticized for his antics and was banned for one game and a couple of training sessions by the manager.
The reactions to the interview have started to pour in. ESPN pundit and ex-footballer Ale Moreno called it a reflection of the player’s “pettiness” and described it as a “wrong move” on part of Ronaldo. Stewart Robson said that maybe the all-time great can’t handle not being the main man in Ten Hag’s team anymore. ESPN’S Gab Marcotti, host of the Gab and Jules podcast said that Ronaldo might already have played his last match in a United shirt, and maybe the interview was consciously decided move to end his time at the club for good.
Uncertain Future For CR7
The interview, scheduled to be aired on the show “Pierce Morgan Uncensored” on Wednesday most likely ends Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford. His relationship with the manger also seems beyond repair. With United playing well in the past couple of weeks without their talisman, maybe they would also consider moving the superstar on in the January transfer window as the best move. As of now, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers to laced football boots, heads into his fifth World Cup with an uncertain future ahead of him.
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