Manchester United had been liaising with lawyers to determine how to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo following his tell-all interview where he criticised the club and his manager Erik ten Hag
Manchester United have terminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract by mutual consent following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
A club statement read: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”
Ronaldo issued a statement of his own which read: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early. I love Manchester United and i love the fans, that will never ever change.
“However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”
Ronaldo’s position at Old Trafford has been under intense scrutiny following his decision to take part in the tell-all discussion with close friend Morgan for his Talk TV show last week. During the bombshell chat, which was aired over two parts, the 37-year-old forward claimed he had been “betrayed” by United and manager Erik ten Hag, who he says had made attempts to force him out of the club.
He told Morgan how he felt he had been portrayed as the “black sheep”. Asked if he felt United were trying to get rid of him Ronaldo said: “Honestly, I shouldn’t say that… don’t know… But listen I don’t care, I’m always… People should listen to the truth.
“Yes, I feel betrayed and I feel that some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year, too.”
The Portuguese superstar only returned to United for his second spell in September last year and his signing was met with huge fanfare – though things have gone incredibly downhill since.
Despite finishing as the club’s top scorer last season, Ronaldo has become a bit-part player under new boss Ten Hag, who handed him limited minutes at the start of the campaign due to him returning late for pre-season. Ronaldo made attempts to engineer a move elsewhere but failed to do so before the transfer window, while United refused to let him go.
The relationship between Ronaldo and Ten Hag has soured further since, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s omission from the Manchester derby defeat to rivals Manchester City a huge talking point. Ten Hag claimed he left Ronaldo on the bench “out of respect” as United were four-down at half-time, though then asked Ronaldo to come on as a substitute three minutes before the end of the victory over Tottenham, to which the striker refused.
Ronaldo then stormed down the tunnel and out of Old Trafford before the final whistle – an incident he admitted in the interview that he regretted. Ten Hag had responded to that tantrum by making Ronaldo captain for the next four matches, but the interview with Morgan left the situation irreparable.