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 \u201cprovoked\u201d by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag into walking off the bench against Tottenham and leaving Old Trafford before the full-time whistle.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The five-time Ballon d\u2019Or 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.<\/p>\n
In Thursday night\u2019s second instalment of the full interview with controversial English journalist Piers Morgan, Ronaldo gave further details of how he felt he had been \u201cbetrayed\u201d as his return to United turned sour.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 something new boss Ten Hag had labelled \u201cunacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo \u2013 who also had not featured in the next Premier League match against Chelsea \u2013 claimed his reaction had resulted from Ten Hag\u2019s comments about not wanting to send him on for the closing stages of the humiliating 6-3 defeat to rivals Manchester City.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t 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\u2019t make sense,\u201d Ronaldo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he did it on purpose. I felt provoked not only because of that game, but before. He doesn\u2019t respect (me) the way I should deserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it is what it is. This is why probably, the game against Tottenham, I left.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Portugal skipper, who is currently on World Cup duty with Portugal, added: \u201cI think it was a strategy from the club for me to react that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very, very, very, very disappointed for the communication of Manchester United.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo 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 \u2013 and the level of sport, clubs, I felt a lot. It was a shame.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronaldo, though, seemed to show some form of remorse for leaving the stadium early.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to tell you 100 per cent, but let\u2019s say I regret (it), but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I\u2019m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
He obviously felt the club did not offer him full support to make the most of his second tenure at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s hard when they cut your legs and they don\u2019t like you to shine and they don\u2019t listen to your advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I have words to advise to the club. I think I can help a lot, but when the infrastructure is not good …\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s contract in the next few days.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his future, Ronaldo told TalkTV: \u201cIt is hard for me to say that I will not be back to Manchester United, but regardless, as you say, let\u2019s see what\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut as I told you before, the fans for me always will be on my side, will be always in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
That, of course, is what he would like to think.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"