‘I feel betrayed!’ – Cristiano Ronaldo breaks silence on Man Utd frustration

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 4 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out against Manchester United, claiming that he feels "betrayed" by certain figures around the club - including manager Erik ten Hag.

In an interview with close ally Piers Morgan on Talk TV he was asked about his situation at Old Trafford and spoke frankly about the problems he is experiencing presently.

When questioned if he feels that he is being forced out of Man Utd, he replied: "Not only by the coach, but two or three other guys around the club. I feel betrayed.

"Honestly, I shouldn't say that, I don't know. I don't care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed and I felt that there are some people that don't want me here, not only this year, but last year too."

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Ronaldo: I've NO respect for Ten Hag

Ronaldo took particular aim at the managers he has had to work under since returning to Old Trafford - including Ten Hag.

"I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I will never have any for you," he said.

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And on Ralf Rangnick, the interim boss who took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season, he offered: "If you're not even a manager, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I've never even heard of him.

"Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed. The progress was zero.

"Sir Alex knows better than anybody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows. The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind."

'I'm saying this for the fans

Ronaldo claims he is doing everyone a favour by speaking out.

"I think the fans should know the truth I want the best for the club," he said. "This is why I come to Man Utd, but you have some things inside the club that don’t help reach the top level as Manchester City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.

"I love Manchester United, I love the fans, they’re always on my side. But if they want to do it different… they have to change many, many things."

Ronaldo tells Man Utd to sell him

And Ronaldo has said he has no issues if the club dump him.

"As Picasso said, you have to destroy it to rebuild it and if they start with me, for me, it’s not a problem," he said.

The ramifications of these words are set to send more shockwaves around Old Trafford, where Ronaldo has spent the last five months in open dispute with the club.

He failed to show for much of pre-season training, left a friendly against Rayo Vallecano midway through the second half and has struggled to win regular game time under Ten Hag.

The culmination of his frustration seemed to be Ronaldo departing early from a Premier League match against Tottenham - but this is a new low point for the Portuguese international, whose Man Utd career now appears to be over.