Cristiano Ronaldo goes scorched earth with devastating interview!
Manchester, UK - Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has gone scorched earth on his club career – and possibly his reputation – with an extraordinary interview given to TV host and journalist Piers Morgan.
In excerpts of the 90-minute conversation with Morgan, which will be broadcast in full next week, Ronaldo launches missiles in all directions.
He says he feels "betrayed" by United and believes head coach Erik ten Hag and others at the club want him out of Old Trafford.
When asked if the Red Devils' hierarchy were trying to force him out, Ronaldo said: "Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed."
The 37-year-old also virtually ended any chances of ever playing under Ten Hag again by saying: "I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
In a move that Sir Alex Ferguson – the man who first brought him to Manchester in 2003 – might not appreciate, Ronaldo also name-checked his old boss, saying that the club has stood still since the legendary coach's departure.
"I don't know what is going on, but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero," the Portuguese striker said.
"Nothing changed. Surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym... Even some points, the technology, the kitchen, the chefs, which is, I appreciate, lovely persons."
"They stopped in a time, which surprised me a lot. I thought I will see different things... different, as I mentioned before, technology, infrastructure."
"But unfortunately, we see many things that I used to see when I was 20, 21, 23. So, it surprised me a lot."
Has Ronaldo just ended his elite club soccer career?
Ronaldo's most devastating put-down is reserved for the second of three managers he's had since returning to United: Ralf Rangnick, whose confusing tenure as head coach and consultant ended this summer.
"For example, we have an interesting point that how the club as Manchester United after (they) sack Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), they buy – they bring (in), sports director Ralf Rangnick, which is something that nobody understands," he told Morgan.
A quote included in Morgan's companion article in the Sun is even more poisonous: "If you're not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I'd never even heard of him."
There are also jabs taken at former teammate and current DC United head coach Wayne Rooney, who criticized Ronaldo for his attitude this season. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been an increasingly disruptive presence at United, publicly refusing to come on as a substitute, leaving games early, and making his desire to leave crystal clear.
He's now set to get his wish, sooner rather than later. The heat expended by this bombshell will only get hotter – it will dominate the news cycle for at least a full week, with the two-part interview airing on Wednesday and Thursday. Add to that the month-long break in club soccer due to the winter World Cup in Qatar and the possibility of United just sitting tight while everyone watches becomes extremely unlikely.
Ronaldo is about to travel to his fifth World Cup. He might not have a team to return to.
Cover photo: REUTERS