Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo says the club betrayed him and he is being sent off, despite having no respect for manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo joined United from Juventus for a second spell at Old Trafford in August 2021 on a two-year deal, 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 the United hierarchy were trying to push him out of the club.
“Yeah, not just the coach (Ten Hag), but two or three other guys around the club. I felt betrayed,” he said.
“Yeah, I feel betrayed, and I felt some people didn’t want me here, not just this year, but also last year.”
Last month, Ten Hag said Ronaldo refused to come on as a Tottenham Hotspur substitute when the striker walked through the tunnel with just minutes remaining after being left on the bench.
He was then not part of the team that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.
The 37-year-old striker, who will captain Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, said of Ten Hag: “I don’t have any respect for him because he doesn’t show me any respect. If you Don’t respect me, I’ll never have respect for you.
United did not immediately respond when contacted by Reuters for comment. After the game against Tottenham, Ten Hag said Ronaldo remained “an important player in the team”.
Ronaldo says Manchester United did not support him when his daughter was taken to hospital in July. He said the club doubted him and showed a lack of empathy when he failed to arrive in time for pre-season training.
“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 things inside that don’t help (us) reach the highest level like City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal… a club of this size should be at the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately.”
Ronaldo’s first stint was under former United manager Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013. The Portuguese says his vision for the club is shared by Ferguson.
“Progress was nil Since the departure of Sir Alex (Ferguson), I have not seen any development in the club. Nothing had changed,” Ronaldo said.
“He knows better than anyone that the club is not on the path it deserves to be.
“He knows. Everyone knows. People who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see, they’re blind.
Ronaldo also criticized the club’s decision last season to replace manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Portuguese teammate, with Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick had left his role as head of sport and development at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow to take over at Old Trafford.
“After the club sacked Ole, they brought in sporting director Ralf Rangnick, which nobody understands,” Ronaldo said.
“This guy, he’s not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United brings a sporting director who surprised me, but also the whole world.
