Erik ten Hag has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo never told him personally that he wanted to leave Manchester United.
A shock interview released by the veteran striker before the World Cup led to him having his contract terminaed by the Old Trafford club, after he made a series of claims against United, Ten Hag and more.
Ronaldo alleged he had been “betrayed” by his team but his now-former manager has suggested that the player was not totally honest with him about his intentions.
“I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now,” Ten Hag told reporters.
“He wanted to leave, it was quite clear. And when a player definitely doesn't want to be in this club then he has to go.
“The interview was the first time he said he wanted to leave. I think as a club you can't accept that. There will be consequences. To make that step, he knew the consequences. Before he [had] never told me.
“During the season there was no transfer window, but until that moment he never told me: ‘I want to leave’.
“In the summer we had one talk. He came in and said, ‘I will tell you in seven days if I want to stay’. Then he came back and said, ‘I want to stay’. Until [the interview] I never heard anything.”
United face Real Betis today in a mid-season friendly before a January transfer window in which Ten Hag may attempt to sign a replacement for Ronaldo.
The manager added: “We wanted him to be part of our project, [for] him to contribute to Manchester United, because he is a great player. He has such a great history, but it's in the past and we have to look into the future.”
