Banished star Cristiano Ronaldo is "polluting" the Manchester United and his team-mates will be desperate to see him gone, according to Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit.
Erik ten Hag dropped the 37-year-old from his match day squad to face Chelsea on Saturday and ordered him to train with the U-21s after he refused to come on as a late second-half substitute in the midweek win over Tottenham before leaving Old Trafford prior to the final whistle. Ten Hag took a hardline stance on the veteran striker's behaviour, with Ronaldo clearly frustrated over his lack of starts under the Dutchman. Ronaldo wanted to leave United during the summer but it's been reported the club received no offers for him.
And now his second stint in Manchester looks to be heading for an ignominious end following his widely panned behaviour last week. In a scathing verdict, French World Cup winner Petit reckons Ronaldo's "oversized ego" has been unable to deal with no longer being the main man as his playing career enters its twilight.
He said on French TV show Rothen S'enflamme: “He tires everyone: the supporters, his teammates… They don’t want him any more in the locker room, he pollutes everyone so much.
“He has an exceptional career, when he stops we will all be unanimous in saying it, but his behaviour is so individualistic. His message on social media.
“You know you don’t like what’s going on with your club, you can’t stand your coach Ten Hag any more, you feel like you are disrespected for what you have done, but your status no longer exists!
“You are no longer the same player, you have been demoted, you have suffered a downgrade, but you do not accept it because your ego is so oversized. Say it real! It can’t be defensible.”
