How Ronaldo was ‘brutally axed’ by Ten Hag
Robin Bairner
- 26 Aug 2022 08:38 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo was “brutally axed” by manager Erik ten Hag ahead of Monday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool, with the former Ajax boss “sick of the circus” he brings, according to a report in The Sun.
Ronaldo found himself on the bench for the match following a summer of controversy, in which he was absent for much of pre-season, officially due to personal reasons. This came against a background of persistent transfer speculation, linking the former Real Madrid and Juventus ace with a move away from the club.
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Although Ronaldo has since returned to action, he continues to be the source of transfer rumours and there is no certainty that he will still be with the squad when the 2022 summer transfer window closes on 1 September.
Indeed, things appear to be tense between Ronaldo and Ten Hag, whose relationship took a turn for the worse when the Portuguese left a pre-season encounter with Rayo Vallecano midway through the second half, leading to a public rebuke from the manager.
'Ten Hag sick of Ronaldo circus'
Now, Ronaldo has been subject to a private tirade from the Dutchman, The Sun reports.
It is stated that there was a two-hour clear-the-air meeting held last Thursday in the wake of a 4-0 defeat by Brentford in the Premier League.
Ronaldo did not speak during the meeting, but Ten Hag made sure his players know what is expected of them.
The former Ajax boss is said to have been left livid that Ronaldo promised, via social media, to reveal everything that has gone on this summer in an interview next week. He now wants rid of the striker, whose “attitude and mood is affecting spirit in the camp”.
Ten Hag’s actions were proved justified as his team went on to beat Liverpool 2-1 on Monday, picking up their first Premier League points of the season.
Whether he gets his wish for Ronaldo to leave Man Utd, though, is far less clear.
