Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about the Red Devils and Erik Ten Hag for the first time since he departed from the club.
Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his former club for the first time since his controversial departure, offering candid criticism of the current management and direction of the team.
The 39-year-old Portuguese superstar, whose last stint with the Red Devils ended acrimoniously following a public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag, shared his thoughts in what appears to be his first public statement on the matter since his shocking interview with Piers Morgan that precipitated his exit.
09:08 - 11.09.2024
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Ronaldo didn't mince words when discussing the club's current state and ambitions.
"They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion," he stated per a post from Fabrizio Romano, before turning his attention to the manager's recent comments about the team's competitiveness.
"The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the League and Champions League," Ronaldo noted, expressing his disagreement with such a stance.
"Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the League or Champions League. You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try. You have to try."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner also offered some advice for Ten Hag, suggesting he seek counsel from former United players.
"If Ten Hag listens to Ruud van Nistelrooy... maybe he can help," Ronaldo said.
He emphasised the importance of tapping into the knowledge of club legends, stating, "He knows the club and the club should listen to the guys who were there."
Ronaldo went on to list several Manchester United icons whose input he believes would be valuable: "Rio [Ferdinand], Roy Keane, [Paul] Scholes, Gary Neville, Sir Alex Ferguson."
The striker concluded his comments with a stark warning about the club's rebuilding process: "You cannot, you cannot rebuild a club without knowledge."
These remarks from Ronaldo come at a time when Manchester United continues to struggle for consistency under Ten Hag's leadership.
The club's performance in both domestic and European competitions has been underwhelming, leading to increased scrutiny of the Dutch manager's tactics and decision-making.
Ronaldo's comments are likely to reignite discussions about the direction of Manchester United and the methods being employed to return the club to its former glory.
As one of the most decorated players in the club's history, Ronaldo's words carry significant weight and may influence both fan opinion and potentially even boardroom decisions at Old Trafford.