Erik ten Hag has told Manchester United board that Cristiano Ronaldo ‘should not play for the club again’, according to ESPN.
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Ten Hag held a meeting with co-chairman Joel Glazer, chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough on Monday to discuss Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
Ten Hag, who is not in Manchester but delayed the start of a family holiday to deal with the major issue, believes Ronaldo went too far in his criticism of the club and the revelation that he “doesn’t respect” the United manager.
United found out about the interview hours after the 2-1 over Fulham on Sunday, according to ESPN, and are now taking legal advice about how best to deal with the current situation.
Ronaldo has a contract worth more than £500,000-per-week until the end of the campaign, but there is a feeling at the club that it will be almost impossible him into the squad after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sources have told ESPN a number of senior players are furious at the timing of Ronaldo’s outburst with parts of the interview first made public just hours after Alejandro Garnacho had scored a stoppage-time winner against Fulham.
The Portugal international has already been disciplined twice by Ten Hag this campaign.
He was first reprimanded in July for leaving early in a preseason friendly with Rayo Vallecano, and he was sanctioned again in October after he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham. Ronaldo was ordered to train alone and was even suspended for the 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
Ten Hag is reportedly still of the opinion that a fit and motivated Ronaldo can help his side during the second half of the season when the Red devils hope to be challenging in four competitions.
But he has told club that he is not willing to sacrifice unity within the team to accommodate Ronaldo and is ready to see him leave even if a replacement cannot be secured in the January transfer window.
