Manchester United are considering all options following Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial interview, in which the forward criticised the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo’s future has been an unwanted distraction during Ten Hag’s first season in charge, having agitated for a summer exit following the club’s failure to secure Champions League qualification.
The Portugal international’s interview with TalkTV and Piers Morgan was announced on Sunday, with Ronaldo saying he has ‘no respect’ for Ten Hag and that he felt ‘betrayed’ that the Red Devils wanted to sell him during the summer.
“Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.” he said on whether attempts had been made to force him out, as per the Sun.
When asked again if senior club executives were trying to oust him, Ronaldo said: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth.
“Yes I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year too.”
Ronaldo’s comments come despite his own desire to leave. The forward’s agent, Jorge Mendes, held talks with several sides during the summer in a bid to secure a move to a Champions League club.
The 37-year-old’s situation has remained a talking point during the current campaign, with Ronaldo having refused to come on as a substitute during a 2-0 win over Spurs last month. It has led to a difficult relationship with Ten Hag and Ronaldo admitted he has no respect for the club’s head coach.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,” he said on Ten Hag.
“If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
United are understood to be infuriated with the interview, which came after Ronaldo told the club he was ill after being informed he was not in the starting XI for the 2-1 win at Fulham.
Sky Sports are reporting that Ten Hag and the Manchester United players are ‘extremely disappointed’ by the interview, and the club will now ‘consider all options’ as how to deal with it as the January transfer window approaches.
The full interview is set to be released on Wednesday and includes criticism from Ronaldo on the club’s lack of progress since his first spell at Old Trafford.
“The progress was zero.” he said.
“Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. He [Ferguson] 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.
“I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. This is why I come 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.”
