It was a calculated power play engineered to undermine Manchester United. Instead, Cristiano Ronaldo's bombshell has only unified the club and its supporters in defence of the manager at his own expense.
Ronaldo will still get what he wants, a move away from United next year, but rather than come out of the situation like the victim he has very much come across as the villain.
The Portuguese forward made some valid complaints about the recent state of the club in regards to their ownership, though his choice of platform and timing of the interview both undermined the content of what was said.
