Cristiano Ronaldo: I feel betrayed by Man Utd and don’t respect Erik ten Hag
In a damaging new interview, Cristiano Ronaldo confessed that he “doesn’t respect” Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag and chastised Ralf Rangnick and others at the club.
Ronaldo returned to his previous club in the summer of 2021 and made an immediate impact, but he has had a tough 2022 that has been hampered by disciplinary issues and a drop in form on the field.
90min heard in the summer that the 37-year-old had wanted to quit United following a disappointing season that saw them finish sixth in the Champions League. Erik ten Hag’s connection with the club has deteriorated since his appointment as manager.
Ronaldo missed the vast majority of pre-season under the new manager and infamously left at half-time in United’s pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano in July. He’s since been used in a reduced role by Ten Hag and was dropped completely after leaving the field early against Tottenham in October and refusing to come on as a substitute in the game.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, as released by The Sun, Ronaldo criticised Ten Hag, saying: “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.”
The 37-year-old also spoke on Rangnick, who took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on an interim basis following his sacking and saw out United’s 2021/22 season: “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 (Rangnick).”
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Ronaldo added that he feels he has been made out to be a ‘black sheep’ at United and also spoke on Wayne Rooney, who criticised the five-time Ballon d’Or winner for his behaviour earlier in the week: “I don’t know why he criticises me so badly…probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level.”
In a video clip released alongside the written interview, Ronaldo was asked if he felt he was being forced out of the club, to which he responded: “Yes. Not only the coach, but the other two or three guys there around the club.”
When Morgan questioned him, he acknowledged that people were at the high executive level and said, “I felt deceived.”
“Honestly, I shouldn’t say that, I don’t know, but listen, I don’t care,” Ronaldo said when asked whether he thought they were attempting to get rid of him. People should pay attention (to) the truth.
“Yes, I feel deceived, and I believe that certain people don’t want me here (at United), not just this year, but also last year.”
Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United expires at the end of the 2022/23 season, but the club can extend it for another year.
