Manchester United have initiated moves in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s bombshell interview and reports indicate it is on the subject of the cancellation of his contract.
The English football giants were the subject of Ronaldo’s ire in his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, host of TalkTV. The Portugal international, who returned to the club after 12 years away with Real Madrid and Juventus, said some pretty damning things about the way the club was run and how he feels he has been treated.
In response, United are now considering terminating his contract and will consider all available options during the World Cup break.
His comments in the interview spanned from the way the club was run by the Glazer family, the club’s owners, to the attitude of young players, and to the management of the club.
Ronaldo has seen three managers since his return to Old Trafford in 2021: former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, who is currently leading the club into what many believe is their new era.
However, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner believes that sacking Solskjaer was an error and that Rangnick set the club back a few paces. He also talked about not having respect for ten Hag, with whom he has had a number of fallouts in the Dutchman’s first few months.
The incendiary comments have led to many pundits, including his former teammates, calling for him to be sacked. Gary Neville, speaking to Sky Sports News, said: “No, I don’t think [Ronaldo] wants a way back. He wouldn’t have done this interview if he wanted a way back.
“I think this interview, to be fair, was one that he knew would bring about the headlines that it has, and would bring the end of his Manchester United career. At this moment in time, I’m wondering what Manchester United are doing, because the reality of it is they know they have to terminate Cristiano’s contract, or else they basically open up a precedent that any player can come in and criticise [the club] in the future.
“Cristiano probably wants that as well, but it didn’t need to end like that. It could’ve come together a few weeks ago and navigated a smooth pathway, through what potentially could’ve been choppy seas to the shore, but it’s not happened.
“I agree with some of the things Cristiano has said, but the reality is if you’re an employee within a business and you say those things, then your employment has to terminate, and there’s no doubt Manchester United have to do that in the next few days.”
