Cristiano Ronaldo urged Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to aim for the Premier League title even though the club needs to "rebuild from the bottom."
Ronaldo, who now plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, had a fallout with Ten Hag before leaving Old Trafford in late 2022.
Ronaldo believes Manchester United requires significant changes but insists Ten Hag should still target major trophies. Ten Hag has voiced confidence in winning more silverware this season after securing the League Cup and FA Cup over the past two seasons.
However, in July, he acknowledged that his team is "a long way away" from winning the Premier League, which they haven't won since Alex Ferguson's final season in 2013.
AFP quoted Ronaldo who shared his thoughts on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast: "Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the league and Champions League.Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the league or Champions League. You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try. You have to try."
United defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May but had their worst Premier League campaign last term, finishing eighth. The club has lost two of their opening three matches this season.
Ronaldo emphasized the need for change: "This club needs time to rebuild because it's still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change. They understand that. This is the only way. This is why they show, they start to change again, the structure of the club, the president, the infrastructures and everything. The owners of the club."
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in Manchester United in February and has since implemented major changes in the club hierarchy. Ronaldo expressed optimism about the club's future: "I believe that the future will be bright. I believe, but they don't depend only on the talents. It's more than that. It's all club, all, not only players, club, everything as a unit, united. They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible."
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Manchester United after joining from Juventus in 2021. Following his exit, he claimed to feel "betrayed" and said of Ten Hag: "I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me."
Despite the past disputes, Ronaldo affirmed his affection for the club: "I'm not happy the way it all happened but, in the same way, we cannot control some points of our life sometimes, but it's done, already done. To prove that I'm right or wrong, this is not my issue any more. I say what I have to say and for me it's done. I love that club. I'm not that kind of guy that forgot the past."
