When Cristiano Ronaldo made his triumphant return to Manchester United in the summer of 2021, the world watched with bated breath. The Portuguese icon was coming back to the club where he had first risen to global stardom. Fans were eager to see if he could replicate the magic of his earlier years at Old Trafford. Despite being 36 years old at the time, he defied age. In his first season back, Ronaldo scored an impressive 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions. However, the reunion was far from the fairy tale that many had envisioned.
Ronaldo’s return coincided with a period of turbulence at Manchester United. The club sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021 after a string of poor results. Interestingly, the Norwegian played alongside Ronaldo during his first stint at the club. Then, they brought Ralf Rangnick in as an interim manager. However, the veteran struggled to adapt to his high-pressing style of play. The mismatch between the manager’s tactics and the player’s abilities became apparent, and the Portuguese’s influence on the pitch began to wane.
The situation deteriorated further when Erik ten Hag took over as manager in the summer of 2022. The Dutchman’s vision for the team involved an energetic, high-intensity style of play, which clashed with Ronaldo’s more traditional forward role. The writing was on the wall: the Portuguese superstar, once the team’s talisman, found himself increasingly marginalized.
The relationship between Ronaldo and Ten Hag reached a boiling point during the 2022 season. Frustrated with his lack of playing time and feeling disrespected by the new manager, Ronaldo publicly criticized Ten Hag. This tension culminated in an explosive interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, where Ronaldo did not hold back.
He accused Ten Hag of disrespecting him and trying to push him out of the club. Even after all this time, the bitter taste of his departure lingers. In an interview with the press, the 39-year-old seemed to criticize his former club and management.
“In my mind, I’ll always be a starter,” Ronaldo told A Bola when discussing his role on the national team. “That’s what you think. Until the end of my career, I’ll always think that I’ll be a starter. I’ll always respect the decisions, not just of the coach, but at the clubs I’ve played for, I’ve always respected them… once or twice, they’ve also behaved badly towards me [laughs]. But seriously, whenever there’s professional ethics, I’ll always respect the coaches’ decisions.”
“I’ll always respect the decisions, not just of the coach, but at the clubs I’ve played for, I’ve always respected them… once or twice, they’ve also behaved badly towards me (laughs). But seriously, whenever there’s professional ethics, I’ll always respect the coaches’ decisions.”
In the aftermath of Ronaldo’s interview, Manchester United took decisive action. The club terminated the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract, bringing an abrupt end to his time at Old Trafford. While some fans were saddened by the way things ended, others acknowledged that it was time for both parties to move on. Ronaldo’s departure from United was a bitter pill to swallow, but it allowed him to focus on the next chapter of his career.
Ronaldo’s comments also hinted at a deeper frustration with the way his exit was handled. “When professional ethics are not respected, there can always be controversy, but that is separate. What I feel at the moment, and the coach’s words also demonstrate this, is that I continue to be an asset to the national team, and I will be the first to admit it. If that does not happen, if I am not an asset, I will be the first to leave.
“But if I leave, I will go with a clear conscience, as always, because I know who I am, what I can do, what I do, and what I will continue to do. I see the present in a very positive way because for me the most important thing is to face each moment, each cycle, and the cycle is good, I feel happy.”
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