The start of this season had been quiet for Cristiano Ronaldo, having only scored one goal in the Premier League.
Age was finally catching up with one of the greats. His role was shifting from superstar striker to time-wasting substitute.
But Ronaldo was done being quiet. On November the 13th, Piers Morgan released the first snippets of an interview with Ronaldo that promised to be “the most explosive interview he’s ever given.”
Ronaldo’s teammates were on the team bus back to Manchester after narrowly beating Fulham, with a last-minute goal from teenager Alejandro Garnacho, when they first started to hear Ronaldo’s words.
The public’s initial reaction to the interview was largely negative due to its timing. Fans and critics spoke of Ronaldo’s selfishness, taking the attention away from the team, which was seen as gathering momentum.
A day after the interview snippets emerged, United released a statement, saying: “Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans,” echoing the consensus that Ronaldo’s interview was a selfish act that threatened to disrupt the club’s forward trajectory under new manager Erik Ten Hag.
However, as more and more clips were released in the build-up to the full interview airing on 16th and 17th of November, the narrative began to change. Many fans and club icons, such as Gary Neville, have been hypocritical of the Glazer’s and the lack of investment in the infrastructure of the club. Ronaldo stated that since he left United in 2009, the club had “stopped in time” because the facilities, the technology and even the chefs” had not changed.
So, when Ronaldo said, “the Glazers, they don’t care about the club,” it split the fanbase on whether the Ronaldo interview would destroy his Manchester United legacy or cement him as a legend of the club.
Whether the interview will ultimately ruin Ronaldo’s legacy at United is still to be seen, however, it proved to be Ronaldo’s last act as a player for the club after it was announced on the 22nd of November that he had agreed to terminate his contract and leave the club “with immediate effect.”
A day later, the Glazer family revealed they were open to selling the club at a minimum fee of £5billion. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust sent an open letter to the club, saying: “The vast majority of United fans will agree with the conclusion you appear to have also reached – it’s time for change” because of “debt and decline – on the field and off it.”
Because the Glazer family announced their potential sale of the club the day after getting rid of Ronaldo, some fans rushed to label him United’s saviour for his heroic final sacrificial act as a Manchester United player by forcing the Glazer’s out.
However, talks of the Glazer family potentially selling the club had been news before Ronaldo’s return and fans had already staged protests for years, meaning it is unlikely that Ronaldo’s interview was the cause of their decision.
Had Ronaldo focused solely on the lack of direction and investment from the Glazer family then the interview would be less controversial for the fans, however, comments directed against Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Erik Ten Hag were seen as unnecessary and unwarranted.
In the interview, Ronaldo said: “They’re not my friends,” when asked about Rooney and Neville. Focusing on Rooney, Ronaldo went on and agreed with Piers Morgan that jealousy regarding “finishing his career (in his) thirties” whilst Ronaldo is still “playing (at a) high level” as well as adding “I’m not going to say I’m looking better than, him which is true.”
Perhaps the most damaging part of the interview to Ronaldo’s legacy at Manchester United were his comments about Ten Hag. Ronaldo said that “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me” for the United manager.
However, the public have been quick to defend Ten Hag, with pre-season quotes such as “we are planning with Cristiano for this season, so that’s it and I am looking forward to working with him” and “Cristiano is not for sale,” suggesting that Ten Hag was excited to work with the Portuguese. Meanwhile, Ronaldo repaid this faith by leaving his first pre-season game early, days after Ten Hag’s encouraging words.
Ronaldo’s next major, disrespectful act towards the manager was to refuse to come on against Tottenham in the Premier League on October 19th. When questioned about his actions against Tottenham, Ronaldo said: “It’s difficult to tell you 100% but let’s say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach. Not allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to the teams.”
Despite his actions, after a short stint training alone, Ronaldo was reintegrated into the squad, played the full 90 minutes in the next four games and was even given the captain’s armband for a match against Aston Villa, which would turn out to be his last outing for Manchester United.
In a few years’ time, Ronaldo will likely still be fondly remembered by United fans for his first spell at the club. However, the interview, which due to Piers Morgan’s lack of critical questioning, will likely be viewed as a vain and selfish move by a legendary player who didn’t want to accept that he was no longer the centre of attention.
