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Cristiano Ronaldo has launched an astonishing attack on Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag that looks certain to end his Old Trafford career.
Ronaldo accused Ten Hag and United executives of trying to force him out of the club, saying he has no respect for the Dutchman and feels ‘betrayed’.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” said Ronaldo.
Some people, they don’t want me here – not only the coach but the other two or three guys. Not only this year, but last year too.
‘Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. But listen, I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.’
Ronaldo missed United’s last game before the World Cup through illness on Sunday, but Ten Hag will be incandescent that the 37-year-old’s comments will overshadow the 2-1 win at Fulham and Alejandro Garnacho’s injury-time goal.
The United boss thought he had settled his differences with Ronaldo after the player was dropped and fined for refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month and then leaving before the game had finished.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was allowed back into the squad after apologising and was even made team captain at Aston Villa last week.
However, Ronaldo’s outburst makes it almost impossible for him to stay at Old Trafford beyond the January transfer window, leaving United and Ten Hag with little choice but to find him a new club.
His team-mates were said to be deeply disappointed by his comments on Sunday night and see it as way to force his departure from Old Trafford which they now believe is inevitable.
In the explosive interview with his friend Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Ronaldo also criticised the club’s lack of progress since he first left in 2009.
He added: “Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero.”
“Nothing changed. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. They stopped in time, which surprised me a lot.
“I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. But you have some things inside [the club] that don’t help reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.”
Ronaldo cited the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season as an example of the club’s problems.
“I’d never even heard of him. If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Man United?”
And he even had a pop at former team-mate Wayne Rooney, saying: ‘I don’t know why he criticises me so badly, probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at high level.
“I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him, which is true!”