“Inevitable end” for Ronaldo “time bomb”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation at Manchester United was “like a ticking time bomb”, says former United and England captain Rio Ferdinand.

Last summer, the 37-year-old Portuguese striker told United he wanted to leave and criticized the club in a controversial interview last week.

“I think both sides got what they wanted,” Ferdinand told the BBC.

“When he mentioned in August that he was going to reveal some of the behind-the-scenes details, that was almost like a ticking time bomb.

“I think he felt he was pushed into a corner, in his own mind, and he did what he did [the interview] to get this result.

“He put the club in a position where it was an unsustainable situation. Did he manage it perfectly? I think, from both sides, no. But if you look at the final game, he and the club have come as far, through the manager’s eyes, I wanted to get there.”

United announced in April that Erik ten Hag would become Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor in the summer.

He arrived at Old Trafford with a reputation for being a disciplinarian and it was unclear how Ronaldo would fit into his tactics once the club had decided not to sell the player.

The Dutchman has had to discipline Ronaldo this season, but the Portuguese was captain in what was his last game for the club, a defeat at Aston Villa.

And Ronaldo said in his interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV that he does not respect Ten Hag.

“In the end, everyone loses except the Manchester United manager,” former Manchester City and Belgium defender Vincent Kompany said during the BBC’s World Cup excess.

“It’s a problem that’s been solved, they’ll move on from this.”

Former England captain Alan Shearer added: “It’s a sad end to his Manchester United career. It was never going to be a match, Ten Hag and him.

“It will be very interesting to see if a Champions League club replaces him.”

Former United team-mate Wayne Rooney, who Ronaldo criticized in the interview, told Indian broadcaster Viacom18 Sports: “It’s a shame because he’s been a fantastic servant for United.

“I’m sure there will be teams that want to sign him. Of course, if he has a good one [World Cup] tournament, there will be many teams who want to try to sign him.”

“Once Ten Hag was appointed, confrontation seemed inevitable”

Analysis – Simon Stone

This was the only possible outcome once the full extent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s band became known.

The fact that the club and the player parted ways so quickly and without clauses underlines the futility of the negotiation and both can now move on.

On both sides, the sadness comes from a potentially transformative movement that simply failed due to a lack of planning.

Having finished second in the last full season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he believed Ronaldo could turn United into title contenders.

However, hope evaporated as United’s form collapsed and, once Solskjaer was sacked, Ronaldo’s status as a totemic striker was undermined by the knowledge that he was required to be the point man. focal point of a pressure team, something foreign to the Portuguese in his pomp, and much less. like a 36 year old.

Had United’s squad had mobile players with the ability to fire passes into the right areas, Ronaldo might still have thrived.

But that’s not the case, and while caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick didn’t have the power to sack the Premier League’s highest-paid player, once Erik ten Hag was appointed as Solskjaer’s successor, the showdown seemed inevitable.

Many believe the end result could have been avoided. Likewise, many thought that once Ronaldo refused to play against Tottenham, he would never play for the club again.

Instead, the extra couple of weeks only led to festering discontent.

Given his status, Ronaldo felt he had a right to get his point across. He knows what it takes to win and saw a club miles away.

Now it will be fascinating to see if Ronaldo stays in the Premier League.

As for United, they have invested heavily in Ten Hag. They believe that the Dutchman is leading them on the right path. Time will tell if they are right.

How Ronaldo’s return turned sour

“Thanks for the memories but goodbye” – fan view

Manchester United fan Alex Turk of YouTube channel Streford Paddock says Ten Hag “has shown he can handle the biggest personalities in the game and has solved one of the biggest dilemmas in his squad”.

“A weight seems to have been lifted and his rebuild can accelerate. United have backed their manager in this dispute with one of the club’s biggest icons. Now is the time to back him up with a striker from your wish in January. This is the next step. .”

And here’s how you reacted to the news.

Mike: He has been a great player, but I cannot accept that he is no longer at his peak; narcissistic enough to think that everything should revolve around him in perpetuity; petulant and disruptive when he doesn’t. So willing to keep his dignity that he lost it altogether.

Paul J: Like many, I was initially excited by his return. However, on the outside I could see that there were cracks covered by Ronaldo. No player is bigger than a club, whatever the situation. A club is a club. If you don’t feel or want to be part of this club, there’s always the outside world. Some clubs are better off without the toxic attention seekers.

Phil: Ten Hag could have released Ronaldo when Ronaldo initially asked. To me, Ten Hag was trying to be The Big I Am!!

Richard: Erik ten Hag has masterfully interpreted this whole scenario. He got what he wanted and came out smelling like roses. Thanks for the memories, Cristiano, but we’re better off without you.

Lawrence: Ronaldo couldn’t accept that he was getting old and refused to be a team player, assuming that everything should be about him. Thanks for the memories but goodbye.

Sarah: I think United are totally to blame. Ronaldo had other offers and was persuaded to return to United. He’s been let down and I’m not surprised he feels betrayed. Ten Hag has no class or respect for Ronaldo’s history with United.