Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United was influenced by his disagreements with Erik ten Hag’s training regimen.
After a high-profile return to Old Trafford in 2021, Ronaldo’s contract was terminated less than a year and a half later, leading him to join Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
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A revealing interview, where Ronaldo criticized key figures from United’s history and current management, marked the end of his tenure.
The friction had been building for some time, particularly with Ten Hag, whose training demands did not align with Ronaldo’s playing style.
Ten Hag had instructed Ronaldo to engage in aggressive pressing from the front, making two direct runs towards the first defender and then the goalkeeper before retreating into formation.
However, Ronaldo reportedly did not fully commit to these drills during practice.
Ronaldo believed that Ten Hag’s strategy did not maximize his skills or contribute to winning games.
This sentiment was echoed by other players like Raphael Varane and Casemiro, who questioned the focus on positional play over the freedom they experienced at Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s exit from Manchester United occurred in November 2022, and Varane has also left as a free agent this summer.
Casemiro is rumored to be joining Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, while Ten Hag continues to face challenges with player dynamics in his team after securing an FA Cup victory in the 2023-24 season.
