Ronaldo lashes out at United 'betrayal'

Portuguese says he is being forced out of Old Trafford

MANCHESTER, England — Cristiano Ronaldo said he felt "betrayed" by Manchester United as he claimed manager Erik ten Hag and other senior executives are trying to force him out of the club in an explosive interview on Sunday.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a peripheral figure on the field for United since Ten Hag took charge in May.

Ronaldo was disciplined after refusing to come on as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Tottenham last month, but had returned to the side in recent weeks and even captained the Red Devils in a 3-1 loss at Aston Villa last weekend.

However, the 37-year-old was absent from the squad in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Fulham in United's last match before a six-week break for the World Cup.

"I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me," Ronaldo said of Ten Hag in an interview with the Piers Morgan Uncensored TV show.

"Not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed."

When quizzed again if senior club executives were trying to oust him, Ronaldo replied: "Yes, I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year too."

Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in August 2021 from Juventus.

His first spell at United had been a glorious one under the tutelage of Alex Ferguson, winning three English Premier League titles, the Champions League and the first of his Ballon d'Or crowns as the best player in the world.

Despite his 24 goals in all competitions last season, United endured a terrible campaign as it finished sixth in the Premier League and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Ronaldo then reportedly tried to engineer an exit before the start of this season, but no agreement could be found with another club.

"Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed," said Ronaldo on what he found on his return to United.

"I want the best for the club. This is why I come to Manchester United.

"But you have some things inside that don't help (us) reach the top level as (Manchester) City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal...a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not unfortunately."

United is fifth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leader Arsenal.

Late win

For Ten Hag, the goal that sent United into the World Cup break on a high note is the perfect symbol of the progress his team has made in recent months.

In the last Premier League game before the tournament in Qatar, substitute Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner that secured a 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday as United strengthened its grip on fifth place.

Despite a poor start under Ten Hag that saw United lose its first two games the team is now just three points off fourth-place Tottenham with a game in hand.

United's form is improving, too, despite being without a number of starters — including Ronaldo, who missed a second straight game with an undisclosed illness but is expected to be fit for the World Cup.

"I think we have a base. We're going in the right direction, I think the culture has changed," Ten Hag said when asked to sum up his first period in charge. "The attitude, the mentality has changed and that's good. I think also now we improve our football base. We have got a better mentality and (what) you see today I think is the symbol of it, when you get the win in the last dying seconds of the game."

The goal was also quite a statement by Garnacho, who has been criticized in the past for his attitude in training but showed his sublime talent by playing a clever one-two with Christian Eriksen on the edge of the box before running into the area to slot home past Bernd Leno just before the final whistle.

"We have seen in training that he is a big, big talent," Eriksen said. "He is starting to learn the movement of the game — when to dribble, when to pass but he's a big talent."

Eriksen had put United ahead after 14 minutes following a well-worked quick break as the Denmark international was on hand at the far post to steer in a deflected shot by Bruno Fernandes into an empty net.

Fulham was without star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic due to a foot problem but still managed to peg United back for large parts of the game and netted a deserved equalizer when former United winger Daniel James turned in a low cross from close range.

But while Fulham pushed for a winner, United's strength on the counter proved decisive and Garnacho's goal gives Ten Hag a solid platform going into the second half of the season. United was coming off a loss to Aston Villa last weekend but is now just six points behind crosstown rival City in second place, and 11 off leader Arsenal.

"We are now united, we have togetherness," Ten Hag said. "The dressing room, the staff, the directors, the whole club and the fans. There's a togetherness and I'm really happy with that development."

Agencies