Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal striker, spoke in detail about his setbacks with Manchester United to journalist Piers Morgan.
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Une interview which will make a lot, but then a lot, of noise. Cristiano Ronaldo said Sunday, November 13 that he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United, the club that propelled him to stardom, and which allowed him to win his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. “CR7” added that coach Erik ten Hag and other top executives at his club had been trying for months to force him out. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, is going through a complicated season. The Dutch coach, who arrived at the head of the Red Devils last May, offers him little playing time.
The Portuguese was not even in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League match, won 2-1 at Fulham. “I have no respect for him because he shows no respect for me,” he said on the famous British television presenter’s show. “Not just the coach, but two or three other guys around the club. I feel betrayed. »
To the host asking him if the management of Manchester United is trying to part with him, the Portuguese, in the process of leaving for the World Cup in Qatar, replied: “Yes, I felt betrayed and I had felt like some people didn’t want me here, not just this season, but last season as well. »
A dismal first season, a second… tense
The Portuguese international, after reigning over Real Madrid and going through Juventus Turin, returned to Manchester United in August 2021. Without ever returning to the glorious years of his first stint, under the tutelage of Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils had then won three English league titles and a Champions League, Ronaldo had obtained the first of his five Ballons d’Or.
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Last season, Manchester United fell to 6th place in the Premier League, failing to qualify for the Champions League. Media then reported that Ronaldo had tried in vain to find another club, which would have been in the running for him for the most prestigious of European competitions.
“Since Sir Alex left, I haven’t seen any development at the club. Nothing has changed,” Ronaldo said. “I want the best for this club, that’s why I came to Manchester United. But there are internal elements that do not help us reach the top level of (Manchester) City, Liverpool and even Arsenal (…) A club of this size should however be at the very top of the hierarchy and unfortunately it is not. »
Manchester United currently sit 5th in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.