Ronaldo’s explosive interview has sent shock waves throughout football.
Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Manchester United of lacking “empathy” and he believes that club officials doubted him when he returned late for pre-season due to his daughter’s illness.
Ronaldo also made some astonishing comments about Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag that will almost certainly end his career at Old Trafford.
In the interview on TalkTV with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo accused Ten Hag and United executives of trying to force him out of the club, saying he has no respect for the Dutchman and feels ‘betrayed’.
"Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero."
Don't miss Piers Morgan's 90 Minutes with Ronaldo. Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/VextyEu7f9
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” said Ronaldo.
“Some people, they don’t want me here – not only the coach but the other two or three guys. Not only this year, but last year too.
“Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. But listen, I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.”
Ronaldo missed United’s last game before the World Cup through illness on Sunday, but Ten Hag will be incandescent that the 37-year-old’s comments will overshadow the 2-1 win at Fulham and Alejandro Garnacho’s injury-time goal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was allowed back into the squad after apologising and was even made team captain at Aston Villa last week.
The 37-year-old, and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, 28, revealed that their son had died at birth on April 18, but his twin daughter survived.
The couple described his death as ‘the greatest pain’ with tributes flooding in from across the footballing world, which included rival Liverpool supporters singing You’ll Never Walk Alone following a minute’s applause, and beyond.
Ronaldo said he also received a touching personal note of condolence from the Royal Family while he grieved, but he has accused his club of lacking ’empathy’, particularly when his three-month-old was taken to hospital in July.
It caused him to return late to pre-season training because he wanted to stay with her. Ronaldo said officials at the club left him feeling ‘hurt’ and ‘bad’ after he explained the reasoning behind his late return. Ronaldo’s daughter’s sickness came just three months after the tragic death of his baby son.
Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer last season with 24 goals in all competitions, but Man United only managed to finish sixth in the Premier League.
The full dramatic and candid interview is set to air in two specials this Wednesday and Thursday at 8 pm on TalkTV. The show is titled Piers Morgan Uncensored: 90 Minutes with Ronaldo.
