Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo says the club cheated on him and he’s being pushed out while disrespecting manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo returned to United in August 2021 on a two-year deal from Juventus for a second spell at Old Trafford, returning to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003 to 2009.
In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV published on Sunday, Ronaldo was asked if United’s hierarchy was trying to force him out of the club.
“Yeah, not just the coach (Ten Hag) but two or three other guys at the club. I felt cheated,” he said.
“Yeah, I feel betrayed, and I felt like some people didn’t want me here, not just this year but last year.”
Last month, Ten Hag said Ronaldo refused to come on against Tottenham Hotspur when the striker went down the tunnel and a few minutes of the game remained after being left on the bench.
He was then not part of the squad that took on Chelsea the following Saturday.
The 37-year-old forward, who will captain Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, said of Ten Hag: “I have no respect for him because he shows no respect for me. If you don’t respect me, I will never respect you.”
United did not immediately respond when approached by Portal for comment. After the Tottenham game, Ten Hag said Ronaldo remained “an important player in the squad”.
Ronaldo said Manchester United did not support him when his daughter was hospitalized in July. He said the club doubted him and showed a lack of empathy when he failed to show up for pre-season training in time.
“I think the fans should know the truth,” he said.
“I want the best for the club. That’s why I came to Manchester United.
“But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) get to the top level like City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal… a club of that dimension should be at the top of the tree I think and that unfortunately they are not.”
Ronaldo’s first tenure was under former United manager Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013. The Portuguese said his view of the club is shared by Ferguson.
“Progress has been zero, I haven’t seen any development at the club since Sir Alex (Ferguson) left. Nothing had changed,” said Ronaldo.
“He knows better than anyone that the club is not on the path they deserve.
“He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that … it’s because they don’t want to see it, they’re blind.”
Ronaldo also criticized the club’s decision last season to replace manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Portugal team-mate, with Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick had given up his position as head of sport and development at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow to take over at Old Trafford.
“After the club fired Ole, they bring in sporting director Ralf Rangnick, which no one understands,” Ronaldo said.
“This guy, he’s not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United brings a sporting director who surprises not only me but the whole world.”