Ten Hag hits back at Ronaldo over Manchester United exit | OneFootball

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Stretty News

·9 December 2022

Ten Hag hits back at Ronaldo over Manchester United exit

Article image:Ten Hag hits back at Ronaldo over Manchester United exit

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag claims he learned that Cristiano Ronaldo had a desire to leave the club from his explosive interview with Piers Morgan on Talk TV.

Erik ten Hag was one of the many figures at Manchester United that were singled out for criticism during the interview, saying he had no respect for the Dutchman and felt betrayed by the club.


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United took their time to respond because they had to check with lawyers if Ronaldo breached his contract, but there was no way back after this interview. Someone had to close the chapter.

Ronaldo is now a free agent after having his United contracted terminated.

Ten Hag has now opened up on his own feelings about Ronaldo and *that* interview.

Speaking to reporters in Spain, where United are taking part in a warm-weather training camp ahead of the return of domestic action, Ten Hag told the Manchester Evening News: “I think it was quite clear after [the interview] that he had to leave. I think we didn’t have to discuss it. It was quite clear. Richard [Arnold], John [Murtough], me.

“Yes [I watched the interview]. Not all of it. I have seen most of it. I have to do it. It is part of my job.

“The interview, I think, as a club, you can’t accept. To make that step, he knew the consequences. But before he never told me. Until that moment he never told me ‘I want to leave’.”

Ten Hag insisted that he would have been happy for Ronaldo to stay – and maybe even renew his contract – but he chose to behave in such a way that shouldn’t be tolerated in any dressing room.

“Last year he scored 24 goals,” said Ten Hag. “What does this team need? We need goals.

“I like to work with world-class players. I know they can make a difference and help you to achieve your objectives.

“I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now. I did everything to bring him into the team because I value his quality. We wanted him to be part of our project and for him to contribute to Manchester United because he is a great player and has such a great history.”

The manager wants to put the Ronaldo chapter behind him and focus on the future.

He added: “I don’t want to spend energy on that. It is the past. We want a new future of Manchester United and he didn’t want to be part of it.”

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