Cristiano Ronaldo has all but severed ties with Manchester United following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
The Portuguese forward was at the heart of a one-on-one interview with the controversial TV personality ahead of the World Cup and has been a severe critic of many facets of life at Old Trafford. More revelations are expected to come to light over the coming days with the second part set to be broadcast on Thursday evening.
Even before that, Ronaldo has ruffled plenty of feathers. With that being said, Mirror Football takes a look at the biggest bombshells from the first part of the interview with Morgan.
Lack of development at Man Utd
Having returned to Man Utd last summer in a switch from Serie A giants Juventus, the Portuguese has revealed that he was taken aback by the lack of investment at the club’s Carrington Training Base from his first spell.
He said: “At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion. To compare with Real Madrid and even Juventus, that they follow the rest of the world, so the technology, especially in terms of training, nutrition and conditions of, eat properly and to recover better than before - surprised me.
“Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it's behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level.”
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Rangnick not the “boss”
Whilst the infrastructure at the club was criticised by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, former Man Utd manager Ralf Rangnick was also not the recipient of many compliments. Despite claiming that he respected the Austrian’s position at the club, Ronaldo has claimed that he never saw him as “the boss”.
The Portuguese said: “Of course, I respect, we have to call because he assumed the job regardless - all the coaches that I had in my career, I call them boss because if they assume the job we have to call in that way. But in the end the deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss because I saw some points that I never agreed …”
Doesn’t “understand” Rooney
Former Red Devils teammate Wayne Rooney was also the target of vitriol - the ex-England star having been a critic of Ronaldo in the past. The Portuguese has claimed that his comments are an attempt to grab the headlines.
“I really don't understand people like that. Or if they want to be in a cover of the paper of the news, or they want new jobs or whatever,” he said.
Sir Alex intervened to halt Man City move
Whilst Ronaldo’s reunion with the Red Devils was certainly an emotional one, it could have been dramatically different for the Portuguese. Reports last summer claimed that cross-city rivals Manchester City were interested in a move for the then Juventus star.
Ronaldo has since claimed that a late intervention by iconic Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson was the only thing that prevented a move to the Etihad Stadium from coming to fruition.
He said: “Well, honestly, it [a move to Man City] was close… But as you know, as my history in Manchester United's, your heart, you're feeling the way these two that you did before, make the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson.
“So I was surprised. And the same way, but it was conscious decision. Because the heart speaks, speaking loud in that moment.”
“I think it [Sir Alex] was the key. It was the difference in that moment, but I cannot be loyal if I will, I wouldn't say that Manchester City wasn't close. But I think, I did [make] a conscious decision. I don't regret at some point. And as you mentioned before, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key.”
Young players criticised
Ronaldo’s criticism throughout the first part of the interview also stretched to some of the young players currently at Old Trafford. The Portuguese has claimed that they have not been tested as much as he was earlier in his career.
He said: “All leagues in the world, the youngest now, they are not the same as my generation. But we cannot blame them because, it's part of the life, you know.
“The new generation and the new technologies that avoid, they distract them for another thing so… But they are not the same that, they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side.”
