Manchester United will consider all options after a bombshell interview given by Cristiano Ronaldo that has the world talking. For those who haven’t seen it, Ronaldo gave an interview with Piers Morgan via TalkTV and The Sun due to be released in full in which he said he feels betrayed by the club and that there are those who are trying to force him out. From the snippets released into the media, Ronaldo said he has no respect for the current manager Erik Ten Hag.
He even criticised the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season, former teammate Wayne Rooney and the general running of the club. It is worth noting that the interview is 90 minutes and so there could be even more attention-grabbing headlines to come.
Questionable Timing
The timing of this interview has to be questioned as it was done after United secured a last-minute victory over Fulham in which Alejandro Garnacho, who looks up to Ronaldo, scored the winning goal. Ronaldo is now heading to the World Cup with Portugal. He has remained quiet for months following a post on Instagram where he said he would reveal the truth. The interview shows that it was calculated and designed to cause maximum impact.
This week, he reported he had been ill and was not able to train or play any games. However, it is worth noting that Ronaldo was told he would be in the matchday squad for the Fulham game but not in the starting eleven. It begs the question, was he truly ill or just didn’t like the fact he was going to be on the bench?
Ronaldo’s Conduct
If we take a look at Ronaldo’s conduct over the last few months since the arrival of Erik Ten Hag as manager there are a number of incidents that have led to this moment. He failed to report for the pre-season tour and left Old Trafford before the end of the game against Rayo Vallecano. The 37-year-old refused to come off the bench during the win over Tottenham and stormed down the tunnel before the final whistle.
This is not the behaviour of a professional footballer. It is clear that Ronaldo has been throwing his toys around after not getting his way. Ten Hag has tried to accommodate him in every way possible, selecting him to start in 10 games and making him captain in the defeat away to Aston Villa. At every press conference, Ten Hag has fielded questions about Ronaldo remaining calm and patient about the situation but has not received the same in return.
Declined in performance
Ronaldo’s contribution on the pitch has declined this season and it is argued that when he does play, United are worse off. He has only scored three goals from 56 attempts and two of those were against Sheriff in the Europa League. He has failed to generate good partnerships with players including fellow Portuguese international Bruno Fernandes. Both have failed to combine for a goal or an assist in the last twelve months.
It has been argued that Fernandes plays much better when Ronaldo is not in the team and by coincidence United were able to score four goals against Aston Villa in the League Cup without him. This was the highest goal tally so far this season. Ronaldo’s influence to win games is now starting to desert him.
Ronaldo’s valid points are undermined
On the flip side, Ronaldo has raised some valid points on which all United fans can agree such as the lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. The lack of investment by the Glazers has been diabolical and if he had directed his frustration towards them, then he would have been labelled as a hero. Whilst he is making some good points, he is undermining everything else he is saying about the club including the manager.
Ten Hag is trying to correct the failures over the last few years and steer United in the right direction on the pitch. It all looks so promising in the beginning but Ronaldo has seemingly undermined it at every turn.
What next for Ronaldo and United
So what should United do next in terms of Ronaldo? There is no way back for a player after this kind of interview. It is clear to see that Ronaldo no longer wants to play for us and is seeking his exit. The fact he conducted this interview was a strategic move to ensure he gets what he wants.
It has been evident that United do not need him anymore as we look much stronger when he is not on the pitch. If Ten Hag and the club did decide to reintegrate him, it would be perceived by fans as looking powerless. It invokes a quote once said by Sir Alex Ferguson “the minute a Manchester United player thought he was bigger than the manager, he had to go.”
On reflection, we liked to think that Ronaldo cared about the fans but he has revealed his true nature in only thinking about himself. It is sad it has come to this as the United fans treat him like one of our own. He talks about betrayal but it is fans that feel betrayed.
I think back to the day when Ronaldo made his return to the club against Newcastle United last September and the atmosphere inside Old Trafford was electric. He scored two goals and fans were still inside the ground an hour after the game singing his name which shows the affection we had for him.
In the best interests of the club and the player, his contract should be terminated. He does not want to be there, so why should we keep him? It is due to expire at the end of the season anyway so United could afford to pay out his remaining contract and we can all move from this situation.