What the hell is Cristiano Ronaldo doing?

Robin Bairner

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

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has given one of the most explosive football interviews ever, in which he savaged his employers, including boardroom members at Old Trafford and manager Erik ten Hag.

If there was any doubt that Ronaldo saw a future for himself at Man Utd – even one that only stretched until the summer, when his two-year contract will expire – that has surely been put to bed with the nature of his words to Piers Morgan on Talk TV.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner set about slamming the club and claiming that the fans deserve to know the truth about an organisation that, he claims, is mismanaged and out of date.

“Everyone knows the club is not on the path they deserve to be,” he fumed. “The people who don’t see that… it’s because they don’t want to see; they are blind.”

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

All about Ronaldo

A string of disappointing seasons suggests that there is some truth in what Ronaldo claims, but his calculated assassination on everything current at Man Utd was not made purely out of concern for the great establishment’s future – it was made in a bid to get out.

Ronaldo has had ample opportunity before now to speak out at the situation at Old Trafford. He might have done so, for example, after last season, when the club finished with its lowest Premier League points tally ever. His words might have made a difference then.

MORE: Man Utd manager Ten Hag told he already has the next Ronaldo

But last season he was playing and scoring. Now under Ten Hag, a manager he openly admits he has “no respect” for, he is benched and peripheral. At Christmas, he will have only one Premier League goal to his name this season – unimaginable for a player of such renown.

Is this really about the betterment of the club, or is this about Ronaldo?

A demand to leave Man Utd

There is a widespread sense, after all, that Ten Hag finally has the club moving in the right direction after years of frustration. Indeed, United had sunk so low after the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-Ralf Rangnick debacle last season that there was only a limited expectation of a top-four challenge this time around.

The vibe around Old Trafford is, broadly speaking, that Ten Hag is doing a commendable job. Nine wins in the last 12 matches would appear to be evidence of this success.

But in Ronaldo’s eyes, it is not success unless he is central to it and now he is not just prepared to quit the club, he is practically demanding it.

His methods, though, are unlikely to attract a suitor of his standards.

Chelsea may take a look due to their ongoing struggles but given Ronaldo has been a PR disaster this season, there is an element of risk to taking him on.

Otherwise, who would sign him? Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham or Arsenal? No. Real Madrid have said they won’t have him back. PSG already have ample ego in their forward line. He doesn’t suit Bayern Munich’s profile and Juventus, who are out of the Champions league anyway, are skint.

Quite what Ronaldo thinks he stands to gain from an ugly public outburst is unclear, but one thing is for certain: his career at Manchester United is over.