Revealed by Sporting but launched to the top of Europe by Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo surprised the world by announcing his return to the English club in August last year. The news sent fans and even players into a frenzy—it seemed like a fairy tale: the old idol returning for the final great years of his career at home. But this Sunday, the story took a decidedly bitter turn as Ronaldo unleashed a series of criticisms against the club and coach Erik ten Hag.
This interview is just the tip of the iceberg in an increasingly conflict-ridden relationship, which has already led to other interviews and even the player’s suspension after a sideline disagreement.
Despite a return filled with tributes and much fanfare, the season was complicated for both United and Ronaldo. Three months after his arrival, the club fired coach and idol Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian was replaced by German Ralf Rangnick, a football director who agreed to return to coaching on an interim basis. That season, the Red Devils suffered from inconsistency and internal problems, finishing sixth and missing out on Champions League qualification.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended as the team’s top scorer with 18 goals—third overall in the Premier League—but his stay was in doubt due to his ambition to compete in continental competitions.
January 2022 – The first interview
Mid-season, CR7 spoke with British broadcaster Sky Sports in his first exclusive interview since returning. He asked for time for Rangnick to implement his ideas, complained about internal issues (without elaborating), and stated that United should always aim for the top three positions.
“We can change things now. I know how, but I won’t say here because it wouldn’t be ethical. What I can say is that we can do better […]. I didn’t come to be in fifth, sixth, or seventh place. I came to compete, to win.”
His personal bet on Rangnick didn’t seem to pay off. The interim coach was criticized by Cristiano in the interview released this Sunday, where he says he didn’t know him.
April 2022 – Personal tragedy
In April, Cristiano Ronaldo lost one of the twins he was expecting with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodríguez. The baby boy had complications during birth.
Granted leave by the club, he returned at the season’s end. In his conversation with Piers Morgan, he criticized the club’s management for a lack of empathy during this difficult time.
July 2022 – Exit rumors and preseason
In July, rumors began that CR7 might leave Old Trafford, possibly due to dissatisfaction with missing out on the Champions League. For the new season, the Red Devils brought in Erik ten Hag, the successful Ajax coach, aiming for a complete overhaul.
Ronaldo didn’t join the preseason tour in Asia for family reasons and was officially excused. In Sunday’s interview, he mentioned needing to be with his newborn daughter, who was hospitalized.
Back with the team, Ronaldo sparked controversy by leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle of a preseason friendly against Rayo Vallecano, along with other players like Diogo Dalot. Ten Hag downplayed the situation at the time.
August 2022 – Bench role and new conflicts
At the start of the new season, the relationship soured further. Cristiano was a substitute in five of the first six Premier League games—a rarity in his career.
Before Sunday’s interview, the peak of tensions with the coach occurred in October during a 2-0 win over Tottenham. Cristiano was asked by Ten Hag to enter late in the second half but refused, leaving the stadium before the final whistle again. He was suspended for the next match against Chelsea and removed from the squad.
“After what happened against Rayo Vallecano, I told him it was unacceptable, but he wasn’t the only one to leave early. But this applies to everyone, so the next time it happened, there would be consequences. That’s what we did,” said the Dutch coach.
Following the suspension, Cristiano acknowledged his mistake on social media, attributing it to the “heat of the moment.” He was reintegrated and became a frequent starter, but his relationship with Ten Hag remained strained. All this culminated in this weekend’s outburst, likely bringing his time with the Red Devils to an end.
