In an exclusive interview, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo slams Manchester United over attempts to force him out of the club, saying that he felt “betrayed” and revealing that he has “no respect” for head coach Erik ten Hag. Last year, Ronaldo, one of the highest paid football players, made a surprise return to United after his Italian side Juventus failed to advance in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Yes I feel betrayed, and I felt some people don’t want me here, not just this year, but last year too,” Ronaldo said in an exclusive tell-all interview with Piers Morgan. “I don’t have respect for Erik ten Hag because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I will never have any for you,” he added. Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer in all competitions last season with 24 goals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also hits back at the Floridian family, the Premier League soccer club owners since 2005, saying that “they don’t care about the club” and only cares about money. “I mean, professional sport, as you know, Manchester is a marketing club. They will get money from the marketing – the sport, it’s, they don’t really care, in my opinion.
He added: “The fans, they’re always right. I think the fans should know the truth, should know that the players want the best for the club.” The Portugal international was also the top scorer in Serie A for the last two seasons and scored 101 goals in 134 appearances before moving back to his old Premier League side, where he scored 118 goals in 292 games during his first spell at Old Trafford.
For the first time in his career, Ronaldo ended his first season trophyless last season. Following an underwhelming campaign, he reportedly informed United that he wanted to leave as he would like to compete in the Champions League, where United failed to qualify. Ligue 1 champions PSG has reportedly rejected an offer to sign Ronaldo during the transfer window. Chelsea also snubbed Ronaldo.
Talking about the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s departure, Ronaldo said that he had “never heard of” Rangnick before. He alo called out the club’s lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. “I don’t know what’s going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club,” Ronaldo said. “The progress was zero.
The 37-year-old forward was the third-highest earning player over the last 12 months, with a salary of $115m that includes wages of $75m plus off-field earnings of $55m between May 1, 2021, and May 1, 2022, according to Forbes. Lionel Messi currently tops the list with $130m in the same period, while LeBron James came in second with $121.2m in total earnings.
Ronaldo’s revelations came seven months before his contract ended with United. He did not play in United’s last Premier League game against Fulham before the World Cup break, citing illness. Ronaldo is set to lead Portugal in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. United return to action on December 7 in a friendly against Cádiz CF. The winter transfer window opens on Jan. 1.
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