Piers Morgan has launched a stinging attack on Erik ten Hag after axing Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old is braced for crisis talks on Tuesday after he was left out of United’s travelling party for Saturday night’s clash with Chelsea. That sanction came after Ronaldo supposedly refused to come on in the latter stages of their midweek win over Tottenham.
Having been named among the substitutes against Spurs, Ronaldo made headlines when he decided to walk down the Old Trafford tunnel before the final whistle. Manager Ten Hag said the matter would be dealt with internally, with a statement subsequently confirming he would not be involved at Stamford Bridge.
Ten Hag has largely kept his counsel over the incident, insisting that the matter be dealt with internally and that Ronaldo still has a future with the club. But his precarious situation at the club shows no sign of relenting with Red Devils great Gary Neville urging the two parties to “end their relationship”.
TV broadcaster Piers Morgan has a close personal relationship with Ronaldo and has nailed his colours to the mast, attacking Ten Hag’s record as a player and a coach. He also suggested that reports that the veteran striker has attracted no interest from clubs is a ‘lie leaked by United management’.
He tweeted on Saturday: "More lies leaked by United management to damage him…@Cristiano received an offer of 130m euros to play for one season in Saudi but turned it down.”
Ronaldo had already incurred the wrath of Ten Hag during his first season in charge after walking out of a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano. He insisted that every player in his squad would be held to the same standards as he attempts to install his culture at the club.
But in response, Morgan said: “Ten Hag trying to lecture @Cristiano on standards & values when he’s deliberately humiliating him… what a joke. One is the greatest footballer of all time & a champion in 4 countries…the other was a c*** player & as a manager, has barely won a conker fight outside of Holland.
“If you think Ten Hag knows more than @Cristiano about the standards & culture required to win football matches, see a doctor urgently.”
And the former Good Morning Britain host suggested he is being kept abreast of the situation, with the pair ‘texting all the time’ ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. Mirror Football understands that Ronaldo and Ten Hag will speak at Carrington later this week, having given the rest of the squad a day off on Monday.
Recent reports have claimed that United could prematurely end Ronaldo’s contract in order to facilitate an exit in the January window, something Neville believes should be on the table.
Speaking before United’s draw with Chelsea got underway, he told Sky Sports: “I have to say as someone in the dressing room, it’s something that’s unacceptable. When you look at whether Cristiano should be selected which is Cristiano Ronaldo’s biggest problem at the moment - that he isn’t playing - Manchester United are better without him and Erik ten Hag knows that.
He added: “The only thing that Cristiano and the club can do is get together in the next week and end the relationship. Cristiano is too good of a player, too fantastic of a character and the club have got to move on.”
