Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to ever play for Manchester United again after accusing the club of "betraying" him in an explosive interview he insists the fans deserve to hear.
Ronaldo, who returned to the club last summer in a stunning deadline-day move, has claimed the club have been trying to force him out and make him the "black sheep".
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner attempted to force through an exit from the club over the summer and has subsequently played a bit-part role under new manager Erik ten Hag, who Ronaldo says he will “never respect.”
Asked by Piers Morgan if United were trying to force him out, Ronaldo said: “Yes. Not only the coach [Ten Hag], but two or three other guys around the club.”
The fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. This is why I come to Manchester United.
Asked if the other were at senior executive level, Ronaldo confirmed: “Yes. I felt betrayed. "Honestly, I shouldn't say that ... 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."
Explaining his late return for pre-season training, Ronaldo said his three-month-old daughter was hospitalised in July and he chose to stay with her. He then accused senior executives at the club of doubting this, which felt him feeling “hurt”.
His relationship with Ten Hag has appeared strained for the majority of their working relationship, and most recently the Dutchman fined the player and forced him to train with the youth team after he refused to come on as a late substitute against Tottenham.
"I feel betrayed."
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo tells Piers Morgan he feels like he's being forced out of Manchester United in an explosive interview.
90 Minutes with Ronaldo. Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/nqp4mcXHB0
On Ten Hag, he said: "I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
He continued: “I think the fans should know the truth. 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 [United] reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal ... a club with this dimension should be top of the three in my opinion and they are not unfortunately.”
Ronaldo decided last summer that he wanted to leave Juventus and has confirmed talks with Manchester City had began before Sir Alex Ferguson, who the player idolises to this day, intervened, which paved the way for a sensational return to United.
The player says the United he found upon his return was a club which had not progressed since the departure of the famous manager in 2013.
They sack Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), they bring (in), sports director Ralf Rangnick ... the guy is not even a coach”
Ronaldo said: "I don't know what is going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero.
"For example, we have an interesting point that how the club as Manchester United after (they) sack Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer) - they bring (in), sports director Ralf Rangnick, which is something that nobody understands.
"This guy is not even a coach. A bigger club like Manchester United brings (a) sports director - surprised not only me but all the world, you know.
"Nothing changed. Surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym...Even some points, the technology, the kitchen, the chefs, which is, I appreciate, lovely persons.
"They stopped in a time, which surprised me a lot. I thought I will see different things...different, as I mentioned before, technology, infrastructure. But unfortunately, we see many things that I used to see when I was 20, 21, 23. So, it surprised me a lot."
