Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with Erik ten Hag has hit rock bottom, with the Manchester United star reported to be ‘furious’ with the club’s new manager.
On Wednesday, Ten Hag said it was ‘unacceptable’ that several players – including Ronaldo – left Sunday’s friendly game against Rayo Vallecano early.
Ronaldo made his first pre-season appearance against the La Liga club but was pictured leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle after being subbed off at the break.
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‘We are a team and that means you stay until the end,’ Ten Hag told Viaplay. ‘This is unacceptable, for all those involved.’
The Daily Star claim Ronaldo is ‘furious’ with Ten Hag’s public criticism and now wants to leave United more than ever.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last summer and scored 24 goals in 38 games for the Red Devils during the 2021-22 season.
But the Portugal international informed United of his desire to leave earlier in the summer as he is desperate to play in the Champions League.
Offers from rival clubs have not been forthcoming but Ronaldo looks set to renew his efforts to leave after Ten Hag’s criticism, with the duo’s relationship now said to be at rock bottom.
It has already been claimed that Ten Hag has decided to bench Ronaldo for United’s Premier League opener against Brighton on Saturday.
While Ronaldo continues to push for a move away from the club, his former United team-mate Louis Saha says he is ‘only thinking about himself’ and has ‘unrealistic’ expectations.
‘In some way, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s point of view it’s a bit unrealistic to ask now a club of this size to adapt to him and his dream,’ Saha told Sky Bet.
‘Even last year, I’m sorry but the magic could have happened and everything could have gone well and they won the Champions League and the Premier League and there we go, he could say that he could stay because he had participated in that.
‘It was unrealistic that just his arrival would have changed all this. Asking that again after a poor season and maybe not great transfer market business in his view, I don’t really understand how dramatic it is to change and to do all those things.
‘I think that last year he had been in Juventus but they hadn’t won the Champions League. I’m not Cristiano but as someone who seems to be a supporter of Manchester United, I have felt like he hasn’t shown completely enough of that, he is thinking about himself.
‘I am not going to judge him because he is an immense player and I’m not in his position, but I would have loved him to stay because he’s a terrific player. No-one can judge his actions at this moment because it’s his own career.’
