Cristiano Ronaldo says he feels betrayed by certain figures at Manchester United, including head coach Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo, 37, has been largely relegated to the substitutes' bench this season under new United boss Ten Hag, and was even briefly banished from the squad after storming off down the tunnel during last month's Premier League win against Tottenham.
The Portugal striker rejoined United from Juventus for a second spell at Old Trafford in August 2021 on a two-year deal, returning to the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009.
In an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, released on Sunday, Ronaldo was asked whether United's hierarchy were trying to push him out of the club.
"Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed," he said.
"Yes I feel betrayed, and I felt some people don't want me here, not just this year, but last year too."
-
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United warms up on the sidelines during the Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 19, 2022 in Manchester, England. Ronaldo was an unused sub as United ran out 2-0 winners. Getty Images -
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United looks on prior to kick off. Getty Images -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. Reuters -
Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up. AFP -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag talks to his players during a break in play. AFP -
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo warming up prior to kick-off. PA -
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. PA -
Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo speaks to teammate Fred during the warm up. AFP -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag gives instructions to Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. Reuters -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts after the final whistle. AFP
Friction between player and manager came to a head on October 19 when Ten Hag said Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur when the forward walked down the tunnel with a few minutes of the match remaining after being left on the bench.
He was then not part of the squad that faced Chelsea the following Saturday.
Ronaldo, who will captain Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, said of Ten Hag: "I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t respect me, I’m never gonna have respect for you."
He was not even named among the substitutes for Sunday's 2-1 win away at Fulham, with Ten Hag naming only eight players on the bench including two goalkeepers.
Fulham v Man United ratings
-
FULHAM RATINGS: Bernd Leno 7: Parried Martial strike out for corner early on and took sting off shot from Frenchman after half an hour before scrambling back to stop ball crossing line. Saved from Elanga just after break but parried ball straight to Fernandes who should have scored. No chance with goals. Reuters -
Bobby De Cordova-Reid 6: Back in team after suspension but caught way out of position in run-up to Eriksen’s goal. Booked for foul on Rashford. Excellent challenge on Garnacho in second half had United substitute claiming a penalty that officials rightly ignored. Couldn’t handle pace of same player for late winner, though. AFP -
Tim Ream 7: American defender is cult figure with Fulham fans and his named boomed out regularly from stands. Relieved when Martial ghosted in front him in first half but sent glancing header over bar. Denied goal when De Gea palmed his header over bar. Getty -
Issa Diop 7: Good recovery challenge to put off Martial as Frenchman shot for goal in 10th minute. Slight deflection on Fernandes pass that ended up in path of Eriksen for Dane’s goal. Helped keep Rashford and Martial relatively under control. PA -
Antonee Robinson 8: Surged forward whenever possible as Fulham found joy down the left throughout game. Won possession off Fernandes that led to equaliser. AFP -
Joao Palhinha 8: Had crowd on feet with well-timed crunching tackle on Rashford in first half that summed up his committed performance in midfield. Had superb overhead kick saved by De Gea as Fulham piled on pressure in second half. Headed good chance way over bar with 10 minutes left. AFP -
Tom Cairney 7: Rare Premier League start for midfielder and supplied the perfect ball into six-yard box for James to score. Should have done better with chance just after break that he spooned over bar from edge of box. Reuters -
Willian 6: Good pull-back set-up Vinicius’ early chance but should have done better in similar position later in half but failed to pick out a teammate. Curled one long-range effort high and wide, sliced a volley embarrassingly off target after finding space in box in first half. Getty -
Andreas Pereira 8: Flashes of real quality against his former club. Full of tricks, one lovely ball to find Wilson in box and didn’t deserve to finish on the losing side. Reuters -
Harry Wilson 7: Saw close-range shot saved by De Gea, although would have been ruled out for offside, then cut back and fired shot that Spanish goalkeeper parried away minutes later. AFP -
Carlos Vinicius 7: Brazilian, leading attack again with Aleksandar Mitrovic out injured, had deflected shot well saved by De Gea in fifth minute. Fired shot on turn straight at Spanish goalkeeper early in second half. Getty -
SUBS: Dan James (On for Wilson 59’) 7: Close-range finish to level scores against former club minutes after coming on. Headed difficult chance onto roof of net not long after. Caused old teammate Shaw a few problems. Getty Josh Onoma (On for Cairney 90’) N/A. -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7: Saved from a slightly deflected shot off Malacia in first five minutes. Key save from Vinicius at start of second half. Did little for goal. Double save on 72, the first from an overhead kick as Fulham pushed for a winner. Reuters -
Tyrel Malacia 5: Right back for the first time given the absence of Dalot. Up against it and a difficult first half against an aggressive and well organised Fulham, but improved. Then took care of a Pereira cross. Positioning flawless. Reuters -
Victor Lindelof 7: Foot in to stop a 22nd minute Fulham attack. Had to be on it against Vinicius, who half turned and fired in a shot on target just after break. Got his toe to stop an 88th minute Fulham attack. Reuters -
Lisandro Martinez 8: Blocked a ninth minute cross and another a minute later as Fulham pressed. Blocked Vinicius. Non-stop blocker saluted by the travelling United fans in song. Tackling got even better as the game went on. Reuters -
Luke Shaw 7: Cross to Martial, which he headed over just before half-time, was his best moment of the first half when most of Fulham’s attack came down the oppostive flank. Reuters -
Casemiro 7: Won the tackle – superbly – which led to the first goal. Hit one ball over the Fulham defence which showed how assured he is. Less influential in the second half when Fulham were the better side. AFP -
Christian Eriksen 8: Won the tackle – superbly – which led towards the first goal. Hit a ball over the Fulham defence which showed how assured he is. Less influential in the second half when Fulham were the better side. Reuters -
Bruno Fernandes 6: Lively start and he crossed for Eriksen for the opener. And played a beautiful ball to the same teammate which he put wide on brink of half-time. Tries the riskiest passes – which don’t always come off. Lost the ball which led to Fulham’s equaliser. Reuters -
Anthony Elanga 5: Needed to be more alert to a De Gea throw which was intercepted. Not bad, but right to bring him off. Not easy for him playing in front of Malacia either. AFP -
Marcus Rashford 6: 6 Teed up Martial – the pair combine well - with a tight chance on 8. Shot saved just after break. Better coming in on the left, but it was the right where he ran almost the length of the field before hitting a ball which didn’t find a red shirt. Reuters -
Anthony Martial 6: Back starting and had a early half chance before he ran towards setting up the opener. Did well to get a shot on target after 50 with players around him – but it was straight at the keeper. United, with a goal difference of zero, need a striker. Reuters -
SUBS: Scott McTominay (On for Elanga 55’) 6: Straight into an attacking position, which was odd. Headed great chance well over in last 10 minutes. AFP -
Alejandro Garnacho (On for Martial 72’) 9: Was appealing for a penalty a minute after coming on. Ran towards the goal in injuery-time, passes to Eriksen, met the return and prodded in the winner. Reuters
Victory kept United fifth in the Premier League table three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham as the domestic season shuts down for the World Cup in Qatar starting this weekend.
Ronaldo said Manchester United did not support him when his daughter was taken to hospital in July. He said the club doubted him and showed a lack of empathy when he did not arrive on time for pre-season training.
“I think the fans should know the truth,” he said.
“I want the best for the club. This is why I came to Manchester United.
“But you have some things inside that don’t help [us] reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal ... a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately.”
-
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo during the friendly against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Reuters -
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Rayo Vallecano's Radamel Falcao greet before the match at Old Trafford. Reuters -
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo shoots at the goal on Sunday. Reuters -
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the Manchester United after weeks of uncertainty. Getty -
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag chats with Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Getty -
Cristiano Ronaldo during the friendly against Rayo Vallecano. Getty -
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Getty -
Fans walk past a mural of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Reuters
Ronaldo's first spell was under former United manager Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013. The Portuguese said his view of the club is shared by Ferguson.
"The progress was zero since Sir Alex [Ferguson] left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed," Ronaldo said.
"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."
Ronaldo was also critical of the club's decision last season to replace manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former teammate of the Portuguese, with Ralf Rangnick.
Rangnick had left his role as head of sport and development at Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow to take over at Old Trafford.
"After the club sacked Ole, they bring sporting director Ralf Rangnick, which is something nobody understands," Ronaldo said.
"This guy, he is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United brings a sporting director surprised not only me but all the world."
The club on Monday issued a statement in response to Ronaldo's comments, saying: “Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo. The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established.
“Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans.”
-
Ralf Rangnick's Manchester United reign started on December 5, 2021, with a 1-0 Premier League victory against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Reuters -
Next up was the Champions League and United were held 1-1 by Young Boys at Old Trafford on December 8, 2021. AFP -
A Premier League trip to Norwich City and a 1-0 United victory on December 11. AFP -
Newcastle were struggling at the time, so United missed their chance when held to a 1-1 draw on December 27. AFP -
Interim coach Ralf Rangnick is all smiles as he sees out 2021 with a 3-1 home win against Burnley on December 30. AFP -
January did not start well as Wolves go to Old Trafford and snatch a 1-0 win on January 3, 2022. AFP -
Back to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph against Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on January 10. AFP -
Villa again, this time away and in the Premier League, and it's a 2-2 draw on January 15. AFP -
A 3-1 win at Brentford in the Premier League on January 19. AFP -
Another win in the Premier League, this time 1-0 against West Ham at Old Trafford on January 22. AFP -
A big setback for Rangnick and United as they go out to Middlesbrough on penalties in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford on February 4. AFP -
Two more dropped points in the Premier League a United are held 1-1 by Burnley at Turf Moor on February 8. AFP -
United are held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Old Trafford on February 12. AFP -
A welcome win for Rangnick as United beat Brighton 2-0 at Old Trafford on February 15. AFP -
A 4-2 Premier League win at Leeds on February 20. AFP -
Next up was the Champions League again, and a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano on February 23. AFP -
United's first meeting with Watford ended in a 4-1 defeat and the departure of Solskjaer. The second was also disappointing, a 0-0 at Old Trafford on February 26. AFP -
A bad day for Manchester United and Ralf Rangnick as they are hammered 4-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on March 6. AFP -
Back on track the following weekend with a 3-2 win against Tottenham on March 12. AFP -
The second leg against Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford on March 15, and a crushing 1-0 defeat and exit. AFP -
United's next game was against Leicester in the Premier League on April 2, and a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. AFP -
Losing to Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park on April 9 was another big setback in the season. AFP -
Norwich City's Premier League visit to Old Trafford on April 16 saw a 3-2 win for United. AFP -
Another bad day, this time a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on April 19. AFP -
Another defeat, with United losing 3-1 at Arsenal on April 23. AFP -
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo battles with Chelsea defender Reece James during the 1-1 Premier League draw on April 28. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo battles for possession with Christian Norgaard of Brentford during United's 3-0 Premier League win at Old Trafford on May 2. Getty -
Brighton's Dutch defender Joel Veltman clears the ball during United's 4-0 thrashing at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton on May 7. AFP -
Ralf Rangnick's Manchester United stay ended with a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on May 22. AP
