Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a stunning attack against Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag that looks set to end his Old Trafford career.
Ronaldo accused Ten Hag and United managers of trying to force him out of the club, saying he has no respect for the Dutchman and feels “betrayed”.
“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show me respect,” Ronaldo said.
‘There are people who don’t want me here, not only the coach, but the other two or three. Not only this year, but also last year.
“Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. But listen, I don’t care. People should hear the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.”
Ronaldo missed United’s final game before the World Cup through illness on Sunday, but Ten Hag will be adamant the 37-year-old’s comments will overshadow the 2-1 win at Fulham and Alejandro Garnacho’s goal in discount time.
The United manager thought he had resolved his differences with Ronaldo after the player was sent off and fined for refusing to be substituted against Tottenham last month and then walking off before the end of the game.
Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo has sat down for an explosive interview with Piers Morgan
During the interview, he claimed he felt “betrayed” by Manchester United since his return and had no respect for current Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag (right).
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was able to return to the squad after apologizing and was even named team captain at Aston Villa last week.
However, Ronaldo’s breakout makes it almost impossible for him to stay at Old Trafford beyond the January transfer window, leaving United and the Ten Hag with no choice but to find him a new club.
His teammates were said to be deeply disappointed by his comments on Sunday night and see it as a way to force his exit from Old Trafford, which they now believe is inevitable.
In the explosive interview with friend Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Ronaldo also criticized the club’s recent progress since he first left in 2009.
He added: “Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no development at the club, zero progress.
Ronaldo has endured a frustrating season that has seen him fall out of favor under the Ten Hag
‘Nothing has changed. Not just the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. They stopped in time, which I was very surprised by.
“I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. But you have some things inside [the club] that doesn’t help them reach the top level like City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.
Ronaldo cited the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season as an example of the club’s problems.
‘I hadn’t even heard of him. If you’re not even a manager, how are you going to be Man United boss?
And he even had a pop at former team-mate Wayne Rooney, saying: “I don’t know why he criticizes me so badly, probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level.
‘I won’t say I’m better than him, that’s true!’
United last night declined to comment, but sources said they would not allow the interview to take anything away from the Fulham win.
Ronaldo has hit out at ex-boss Ralf Rangnick, saying he didn’t even know who he was
Ronaldo has also hit out at Wayne Rooney following his former team-mate’s criticism
Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer last season with 24 goals in all competitions, but the Red Devils only managed to finish sixth in the Premier League.
This led to a change of manager in the summer, with Ten Hag arriving on a long-term deal from Ajax.
Ronaldo and Ten Hag’s relationship has appeared strained since the start of the season after the Portuguese star told United he wanted to leave in July.
Ronaldo failed to get his move, and has started just four league games for the club this season.
He has shown his frustration openly at times, refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month, as Sportsmail exclusively revealed, before storming the tunnel and leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle.
This led to him being banished from the squad for the next game against Chelsea, and although he has since been welcomed back into the fold, Ronaldo has revealed he has no time for the Ten Hag.
United beat Fulham 2-1 on Sunday but are still 11 points behind leaders Arsenal
When Ronaldo returned to United, he initially worked with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but his former team-mate was sacked last November after a poor run of results.
This led to the 13-time Premier League champions appointing an interim manager in Rangnick until the end of the season.
United’s results did not improve under Rangnick, with Ronaldo now questioning whether he had the credentials to manage the club in the first place after spending much of the previous decade as sporting director.
After the win at Fulham, the Red Devils go into the World Cup break in fifth place, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
A title tilt now appears to be beyond United, with Ronaldo criticizing the club for not starting since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013. He believes dramatic changes must be made before United can again challenge- se to get big platforms.
‘The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I didn’t see any development at the club. Nothing had changed,” Ronaldo admitted when talking about his return last year after 12 years away from Old Trafford.
“I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. That’s why I’m coming to Manchester United.
Ronaldo believes United have not evolved at all since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013
“But you have some things in there that don’t help us get to the top level like City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal… a club with that dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and unfortunately they are not.
‘As Picasso said, you have to destroy it to rebuild it (the artist’s exact quote was: “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction”. And if they start with me, for me, it’s no problem .
“I love Manchester United, I love the fans, they are always by my side. But if they want to do it differently… they have to change many, many things.’
Ronaldo now heads to Qatar with Portugal to play in his fifth World Cup.
United will play a Carabao Cup tie with Burnley and two league games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves when domestic action returns next month before the January transfer window opens.