Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United team-mates feel he has disrespected the club after his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, according to reports.
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United’s players are also struggling to understand why he took part in an explosive interview that saw him attack Erik ten Hag and tarnish the club’s reputation.
According to Sky Sports, Manchester United only became aware of the interview as they prepared to fly back from their 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday.
The Red Devils will be bracing themselves for more fallout when the interview is shown in full on Wednesday and Thursday.
In the interview, Ronaldo accused Ten Hag and the United executives of trying to force him out of the club, saying they had ‘betrayed him’, claimed they ‘lacked empathy’ after his daughters illness and even criticised Wayne Rooney.
Ronaldo’s team-mates are reported to be ‘hugely disappointed’ in the 37-year-old, who told the club he wanted to leave in the summer before a move failed to materialise.
They feel he has disrespected the club and the manager by speaking in the way that he did. According to Sky Sports, Ten Hag and the United stars are extremely disappointed with the manner and exact timing of the interview.
As a result, the Red Devils are said to be considering ‘all of their options’ when it comes to Ronaldo’s future at United.
The club’s management staff and Ronaldo’s team-mates are said to be confused by his actions. They feel he was treated with respect at the club – even after he asked to leave and after he refused to come on against Tottenham.
Sky Sports have also claimed that Ronaldo was told on Thursday that he would not be in United’s starting lineup against Fulham. But, the Portugal international was told he would be included in the matchday squad.
Ronaldo is said to have told the club he was ‘ill’ and that he couldn’t travel to the match, the last before he heads to the World Cup with Portugal, with the team.
The Manchester United hierarchy were even more frustrated when the interview surfaced after the match.
Ronaldo also accused United of lack of ’empathy’ after club officials doubted him when he returned late for pre-season because of his daughter’s illness.
Fans were quick to respond to the interview, taking to Twitter to ait their views. One fan tweeted: ‘The sooner Ronaldo leaves the better. What an absolute circus he creates Not needed and United are a better TEAM without him.’
Another said: ‘Ronaldo has ruined his legacy as a footballer and a person. His ego has ruined everything, it’s a shame his career has ended like this.’
