Cristiano Ronaldo has lashed out at Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag in an incendiary television interview, saying he feels “betrayed” by the team and that senior figures have tried to force him out of Old Trafford.
The interview will be broadcast this week on Britain’s TalkTV channel but segments were revealed on Sunday night just hours after United’s last game before the World Cup.
The English club did not cover Cristiano for the second game in a row after United reported that the Portuguese star was dealing with an illness that he did not identify – although the comments will fuel speculation that he has played his last game for the team.
When asked on the program “Piers Morgan uncensored” if United were trying to remove him from the squad, Cristiano replied: “Yes, not only the manager but two or three other people around the team. I feel betrayed”.
Asked again if senior club executives were trying to get rid of him, the 37-year-old Portuguese said: “I’m not interested. People must know the truth.
“Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that there are people who don’t want me here, not only this year, but also last year,” Cristiano said.
United have not offered any statements at the moment in this regard.
Cristiano has been in and out of United’s starting lineup this season, refusing to come on as a substitute in last month’s win against Tottenham. This led to him being left out of the squad for a subsequent trip to Chelsea, although he has rejoined the squad.
The Portuguese further complicated the relationship with Ten Hag by saying: “I don’t feel respect for him, because he doesn’t show respect towards me. If you don’t respect me, I will never respect him.”
He also stated that the team had not improved since Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013 and criticized the hiring of Ralf Rangnick as caretaker manager last season after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“This guy isn’t even a coach,” Cristiano said of Rangnick. “A big club like Manchester United brings (a) a sporting director — it not only surprised me, but the whole world.”