Cavani comments explain why Ten Hag wanted Ronaldo out at Man Utd

Stuart Telford

• 22 Feb 2023 21:43 GMT
• 3 min read

Things went south for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag long before the Portuguese's unsanctioned interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo left Man Utd under a cloud in December, having slammed the club, the Glazer family ownership and, in particular, manager Ten Hag in his interview with Morgan.

A club legend who won the Champions League with the Red Devils in 2008 and fetched them a then-word record €94 million transfer fee in 2009, Ronaldo had been reduced to a spectator's role since last summer.

READ: Ronaldo and Mendes split after 'huge f**k up'

Cavani had been on United's books when Ronaldo returned for a second Old Trafford stint in the summer of 2021, and his quotes at the time which have resurfaced recently shed some light on Ten Hag's predicament, with Ronaldo effectively undroppable.

"Knowing a bit about the world of football these days, the first thing I did was call my brother [and agent] and said: 'Fernando, if this had happened a week ago, I would ask you to find me another club,'" Cavani said.

Ronaldo's expectation

"But not because I didn't want to play with Cristiano Ronaldo. No. Because I had the opportunity to know him, and he is a great professional, with his targets, and that is perfect for a sportsman. But as I know, after years in football, how things work these days. That's why I spoke to my brother.

READ: Ronaldo's influence already impacting Al Nassr teammates

Cavani had already been shunted out to the right flank at PSG when the Ligue 1 giants signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan in 2012, and knew Ronaldo's reputation would guarantee him his place at No.9 in Manchester.

Ronaldo clearly also thought that too, and when Ten Hag dropped him, with Marcus Rashford and, when injury permitted, Anthony Martial playing ahead of him, he couldn't handle the rejection.

Ronaldo is clearly over it. He now earns €200 million a year at Saudi Pro league side Al Nassr, for whom he has scored five goals in five games since arriving in January.