Cristiano Ronaldo interview with Piers Morgan Part 2: problems at United, leaving Old Trafford, Messi...
Ronaldo accused senior figures at Old Trafford of not believing him when he missed part of the club’s preseason in the summer.
Part 2 of Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan saw the Portuguese forward open up on issues at Old Trafford, his relationship with Erik ten Hag and leaving matches early.
“United didn’t believe my daughter was sick”
Ronaldo accused senior figures at Old Trafford of “not believing” him when he missed part of the club’s preseason because his infant daughter was ill.
“I spoke with the director and president of Manchester United. And (they) kind of didn’t believe there was something going wrong which was making me feel bad. They believed, but in the same way, I’m never going to change the health of my family for football. Never. Now, or ten years behind or forward.
“It’s something that really hurt me because they doubted my word that I struggled, especially Belle and Geo, we had one week in hospital because Belle had a big problem.
“I didn’t go to pre-season because of that, because I wasn’t allowed to leave my family in case something happened. I don’t think that’s fair, to leave my family for pre-season, and that’s why I didn’t go.”
On walking out in fixture against Tottenham
“I will be honest with you, it’s something that I regret to left from the stadium. Probably, or maybe no, I don’t know. It’s difficult to tell you 100% but let’s say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach. Not allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to the teams.”
On walking out in preseason friendly against Rayo Vallecano
“Me and 8 players, but they mentioned only my name…everyone do that… Last year, many players did the same. In that game eight players do the same but they only speak about the black sheep which is me, which is, I completely understand, okay, it’s done, I apologise to the coach and for me, the chapter was closed.”
On Erik ten Hag leaving him on the bench against Manchester City
“Excuses, I see as excuses. I saw many things that, I don’t want to criticise him. He can have different opinion than me. They choose the players that they think is better for the team. I respect that but excuses all the time you know; the excuses have short legs, cannot excuse all the time, which is things that don’t make sense. Okay, you don’t put me against Manchester City because of respect of your career and you want to put me three minutes against Tottenham. It doesn’t make sense.”
He added: “I think he did it on purpose because, for example, in a national team the other clubs, if the coach wants to put me five minutes, if someone injured or if they really need me, I will help. But in that way I felt provoked not only because of that game, but before.”
On the Glazer family
“The owners of the club, they don’t care about the club. As you know Manchester is a marketing club. They will get money from the marketing and they don’t really care about the sport, in my opinion.”
Ronaldo was then asked if he talks to the Glazers: “Never. They give all the power to the president and sporting director.”
Returning to United
“When I arrived at Manchester United, I always be available to help the team to do good things, to put in the right spots, to compete with the best teams. But it’s hard when they cut your legs and they don’t like you to shine and they don’t listen to your advice. I think I have words to advise to the club because the trophies I won, individual and collective. I think I can help a lot, but when the infrastructure is not good.”
Future at United?
Morgan later asked the Portugal international if he would be a United player after the World Cup. “It’s difficult to tell right now, it’s because, we, my mood is right now to the World Cup. It’s probably my last World Cup, of course, my fifth World Cup.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen after the World Cup, but as I told you before, and I will say again, the fans will be always in my heart. And I hope they been in my side, even if I’m back, or if I’m not back, or if I stay or whatever. Nobody’s perfect. Episodes in life we all have is part of the human beings, is part of me to be a human being and father as well. I always will commit mistakes. But I don’t know, it’s hard to tell right now what’s going to happen to World Cup because my focus is for the World Cup, for the Portugal national team.
On retirement
“I want to play two years more, three years more. I want to finish at 40, a good age. But I don’t know. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Ronaldo on Messi
“Amazing player, he’s magic, top… as a person, we share the stage for 16 years, imagine, 16 years, we share. So, I have great relationship with him. I’m not his friend in terms of, what I mean ‘friend’ is the guy who was with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it’s like a teammate.
“He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speaks about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they’re from Argentina. My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football. Playing on the same team? We would sell a lot of shirts!”