Simon Jordan launched a fierce attack at Piers Morgan in the wake of his sensational interview with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking to TalkTV host Morgan, Ronaldo, 37, criticised Manchester United and several individuals - including Ralf Rangnick, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney. The Portuguese international also revealed his lack of respect for current United boss Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo has been slammed for speaking out against his employers and for the timing of the interview, with the first quotes released after United's final game before the World Cup starts in Qatar. United reportedly want to sack the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Yet Jordan has instead taken aim at Morgan for not challenging Ronaldo, as the player made several unverified claims about United. There was no confirmation whether TalkTV put the bombshells to United before publishing them during the two-part interview.
"This is sport’s version of Oprah with Harry and Meghan," Jordan told Morgan during a live interview on talkSPORT. "It’s an interview done between two people who know each other really well, it’s a comfortable interview and nothing is really challenged."
Jordan's comments are a reference to Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Meghan last year, which Morgan was heavily critical of. Morgan left his role as a presenter on Good Morning Britain shortly after criticising Harry and Meghan for doing the interview.
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In response to Jordan, Morgan said: "I did challenge him. I got him to admit he shouldn’t have done what he did at Tottenham. I got him to make other admissions, too... He was setting the record straight about stuff he felt was misleading and untrue in the media."
Ronaldo came under fire in October after refusing to come on in United's 2-0 win against Tottenham. He stormed down the tunnel and left Old Trafford before the full-time whistle.
Jordan then contested Ronaldo's claim that senior officials at United didn't want him to return to the club in August 2021. Jordan also wanted to know more about the alleged €350million (£304m) offer he received from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club last summer.
Morgan insisted he had "spoken to the Saudi person who made the offer myself" before the row got more personal. "You had a wonderful opportunity," added Jordan. "I agree with a lot of the things you say. I don’t make puerile comments like you do, about me being a ‘failed football club owner’ [at Crystal Palace ] on Twitter."
Morgan then said Jordan was talking "nonsense" and highlighted the reaction to the interview. "The reason it has made so many headlines is because it was revelatory," added Morgan - before again dismissing comparisons with the Harry and Meghan interview.
Morgan went on to offer Untied the chance to dispute the claims - which suggests TalkTV didn't give them a right to reply - before Jordan accused him of interviewing Ronaldo with "goldfish eyeballs". "You are no sounding very puerile and childish," replied Morgan.
