After the “TalkTV” interview
After the clear criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview, Manchester United is taking consequences. As the “Red Devils” announced on Tuesday evening, the 37-year-old is leaving the club “by mutual consent and with immediate effect”. The English record champions thanked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner “for the immense contribution” he had made, but wanted to focus on continuing the progress of Erik ten Hag’s side.
Ronaldo, who is currently contesting the World Cup in Qatar with Portugal, had accused United officials and coach ten Hag of “treason” and criticized the Glazer family, who own the club. After the first excerpts from the interview were published on TalkTV, Man United said they wanted to analyze all the facts before reacting to them.
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Update 8:02 p.m.: Ronaldo responded to the inglorious and premature end of his second engagement at Manchester United with a declaration of love. “I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never change,” he said in a statement. Nevertheless, it is “the right time to look for a new challenge. I wish the team every success.”
When asked if the Red Devils club management tried to force him out of the club, the attacking star replied: “Yes, I felt betrayed and I had the feeling that some people didn’t want me here , not just this year, but also last year.” This included “not only coach” ten Hag, but also “two or three other people in the club”, according to the veteran, whose market value has increased from 45 to currently 20 million euros since the summer of 2021 has fallen. He also has “no respect” for the head coach, “because he has no respect for me. If you don’t respect me, I will never respect you.”
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Second stop at Man United ends for Ronaldo: Only played more often for Real
For the right-footer, who returned to United in 2021 after 18 years for a fee of 17 million euros, this marks the end of his second spell in Manchester. Overall, he played 346 games for the “Red Devils”, in which he contributed 145 goals and 64 assists. More often he ran only for Real Madrid. During his first spell at Manchester from 2003 to 2009, Ronaldo won three championships, the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and Club World Cup under his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson. He then collected more trophies with Real and Juventus Turin.
In the Portuguese World Cup quarters on Monday he tried to keep the whirlwind away from his national team. “I don’t have to worry about what other people think. I speak when I want to,” he said in his surprising public appearance before the start of the World Cup against Ghana. Everything that revolves around him is “always a debate,” Ronaldo complained. He called for the team to finally be allowed to rest for the World Cup preparations: “Constantly asking about Cristiano is boring. The topic is closed.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford.#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 22, 2022
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