"I feel that some people don't want me here"
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to unleash fierce criticism on Manchester United football club over how they have treated him since his return in August 2021.
Before Ronaldo leaves to participate in the 2022 World Cup, the striker will have an in-depth discussion about his experiences so far.
From snippets shared online by Piers Morgan, the athlete explains how he feels disrespected by United amongst other things.
This will include controversial topics such as the treatment Ronaldo has faced by the club, Erik Ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick, Wayne Rooney, and Sir Alex Ferguson.
We look at some of the main topics of the chat and what explosive comments the footballer has made.
Strained Relationship with Erik Ten Hag
It would seem that Ronaldo’s relationship with Manchester United manager Ten Hag is on the rocks since he has made it apparent that Ronaldo’s days of serving as United’s regular starter are done.
After a productive tenure as manager of the Dutch club Ajax, Ten Hag assumed control in the summer of 2022.
Ronaldo attacked the Dutchman in an unprecedented way in his interview with Morgan.
Since the United manager’s handling of him this season, Ronaldo has now asserted that he has “no respect” for him. Ronaldo commented:
“I don’t have respect for him 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 Appointment of Ralf Ragnick
The Red Devils missed the top four of the Premier league in 2021 and the manager of the team at the time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was fired during Ronaldo’s first season back at United.
Halfway through the season, Ralf Rangnick was appointed temporary manager, but he was unable to spark a change in the team’s prospects.
Now it seems that Ronaldo, more so than anybody else, may have been undermining the German in the rumoured locker room leaks last season.
In his interview with Morgan, Ronaldo admitted that he didn’t respect Rangnick:
“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.”
Pressured out of Manchester United?
Ronaldo’s admission that he believes senior club officials are pressuring him out of United is possibly the biggest bombshell he made.
This season, the attacker’s playing time has decreased as Ten Hag has favoured other options on the bench.
And Ronaldo now thinks that people at Old Trafford are trying to push him to leave.
While he believed he was telling the truth, he also acknowledged feeling “betrayed” by the way he was treated.
“Honestly, I shouldn’t say that…don’t know…
“But listen I don’t care, I’m always… People should listen to the truth.
“Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year, too.”
Wayne Rooney’s Comments
After he refused to come on as a substitute during the win over Tottenham, many pundits were open to criticise Cristiano Ronaldo.
That included former team-mate Wayne Rooney, who called Ronaldo’s behaviour an “unwanted distraction”.
While the duo were close during their successful time together playing for the Red Devils, it appears they have now fallen out.
Rooney was one of the people Ronaldo attacked in his interview with Morgan, taking aim at the Englishman for having retired.
On Rooney, the Portuguese said:
“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.
“I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Influence
Although Cristiano Ronaldo will face criticism for his shocking comments, he did suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson might be his most important supporter.
For six years during Ronaldo’s initial tenure at United, Ferguson served as his manager.
And Ronaldo has given hints that Ferguson shares his concerns about the Red Devils’ deteriorating state.
The striker also said that anyone who does not believe that there are issues at the club is “blind”, expressing:
“He knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows.
“The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind.”
A portion of his tense conversation with Piers Morgan was released late on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
The complete interview will be released in a two-part revelation on TalkTV on November 16, 2022, and November 17, 2022, at 8 pm UK time.
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