As his relationship with the club continues to deteriorate, Cristiano Ronaldo has further fanned the flames by revealing in the second instalment of the TalkTV interview he felt “provoked” by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag into walking off the bench against Tottenham and leaving Old Trafford before the full-time whistle.
In his headline-grabbing interview with TalkTV which hit the airwaves over the last few days, the desperately-wantaway forward has roasted United in no uncertain terms, lashed out at former team-mates with toxicity and criticised the Red Devils owners the Glazer family for not caring about the club.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was unhesitant in showing his total disapproval of gaffer Erik ten Hag by saying he has no respect for the Dutchman, who took over at Old Trafford in the summer, besides adding to the furore by claiming a number of other individuals at United were also trying to push him to leave.
In Thursday night’s second instalment of the full interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan, Ronaldo gave further details of how he felt he had been “betrayed” as his return to United turned sour.
It all began to go south when Ronaldo and a few other players had left a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano before full-time – something new boss Ten Hag had labelled “unacceptable”.
Then the pace picked up in October when Ronaldo was a substitute for the 2-0 home win over Tottenham and later walked off the bench and stormed off in a huff down the tunnel leaving the stadium, with Ten Hag saying the 37-year-old later admitting the striker had refused to come on during the final few minutes when he was instructed to.
Ronaldo – who also had not featured in the next Premier League match against Chelsea – claimed his reaction had resulted from Ten Hag’s comments about not wanting to send him on for the closing stages of the humiliating 6-3 defeat to rivals Manchester City.
“You don’t put me on against Manchester City because of respect for my career and you want to put me on for three minutes against Tottenham? It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo said.
“I think he did it on purpose. I felt provoked not only because of that game, but before. He doesn’t respect (me) the way I should deserve.
“But it is what it is. This is why probably, the game against Tottenham, I left.”
The Portugal skipper, who is currently on World Cup duty with Portugal, added: “I think it was a strategy from the club for me to react that way.
“I was very, very, very, very disappointed for the communication of Manchester United.
“To be honest, I never had a problem with any club, with any coach. And they suspend me three days, which I felt was a lot – and the level of sport, clubs, I felt a lot. It was a shame.”
Ronaldo, though, seemed to show some form of remorse for leaving the stadium early.
“It’s difficult to tell you 100 per cent, but let’s say I regret (it), but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach,” he said.
“Not allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to teams.”
He obviously felt the club did not offer him full support to make the most of his second tenure at Old Trafford.
“When I arrived at Manchester United, I always be available to help the team to do the good things, to put in the right spots, to compete with the best teams,” he said.
“But it’s hard when they cut your legs and they don’t like you to shine and they don’t listen to your advice.
“I think I have words to advise to the club. I think I can help a lot, but when the infrastructure is not good …”
Former United team-mate Gary Neville who had also been on the butt end of harsh criticisms by Ronaldo during his interview said on Thursday that United should cancel Ronaldo’s contract in the next few days.
Reflecting on his future, Ronaldo told TalkTV: “It is hard for me to say that I will not be back to Manchester United, but regardless, as you say, let’s see what’s going to happen.
“But as I told you before, the fans for me always will be on my side, will be always in my heart.”
That, of course, is what he would like to think.