Manchester United centre-back Raphael Varane has admitted that he and his teammates will be impacted by Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who is currently with the Portugal squad gearing up for the start of the World Cup this weekend, has heavily criticised United and manager Erik ten Hag during his extensive chat with TV presenter Morgan. Several snippets of the 90-minute interview have been shared on social media over the last few days ahead of it being aired in full on TalkTV on Wednesday and Thursday evenings this week.
Ronaldo, who has scored just three goals for the Reds this season, has accused United of 'betraying' him and Ten Hag of showing 'no respect' towards him. He has also criticised the Glazers' ownership of the club and the lack of progress they have made since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement almost a decade ago.
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Details of the interview were released just hours after United had played their final match ahead of the World Cup on Sunday evening, meaning the full squad will not be together again until the end of December. Nevertheless, Varane, who is hoping to be fit in time for France's World Cup opener against Australia next Wednesday evening, has admitted that Ronaldo's comments will 'affect' the squad and that everyone is aware of what his teammate has said.
"Obviously it affects us," Varane told French radio station Europe1. "We follow what is happening and what is being said.
"We try to calm the situation in our own way, we try not to get too involved in it. What is happening in the media in the big clubs is gaining momentum.
"When it's a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, even more, so we try to take it with distance, that is to say that we do not try to change the situation alone, we are part of a collective. What I want is the best for my team so whatever the decision, as a player, we will accept it and give the best of ourselves."
Varane and Ronaldo were both reunited at Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 following several years at Real Madrid together. Varane was snapped up from the Spanish giants just two weeks before Ronaldo sealed his sensational return to the club from Juventus.
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