Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he is being forced out of the club, claiming that he has been “betrayed” by United.
The 37-year-old is set to reveal all in an interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, speaking to media about his issues for the first time since asking to leave the club in the summer.
Ronaldo has always remained adamant that the ‘truth’ would come out, and that he would eventually reveal his story following a summer which has led to the Portuguese international becoming an increasingly marginalised figure at Old Trafford.
“I feel betrayed.”
EXCLUSIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo tells Piers Morgan he feels like he’s being forced out of Manchester United in an explosive interview.
90 Minutes with Ronaldo. Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV.@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #PMU pic.twitter.com/nqp4mcXHB0
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 13, 2022
Ronaldo hit out at United over a lack of progress since his first spell at the club, while stating that he “doesn’t have respect” for current United manager Erik Ten Hag. The forward would then add that Ten Hag “doesn’t show respect for me.”
Clips of the interview were published on social media last night, with the full interview set to release over two parts, airing on Wednesday and Thursday.
After posting the clips on Twitter, Morgan spoke to talkSPORT ahead of the full interview being released.
The 57-year-old explained that he was asked to do the interview by Ronaldo, and that the player felt it was time to speak out.
👀 “Cristiano asked me to do it.”
🔥 “He knows it’s going to be incendiary but he feels he should be doing this.”
🙏 “He loves #MUFC & the fans but feels if he doesn’t speak nothing will change.”@PiersMorgan explains how and why his interview with Ronaldo happened. pic.twitter.com/VGJMDs80ex
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 14, 2022
“He feels he has to speak out, he knows it will be incendiary, will rattle some changes, but he also feels he should be doing this,” Morgan explained. “He knows people will criticise him, but he also knows what he is saying is true.”
The interview has majorly overshadowed United’s last minute 2-1 victory against Fulham, with Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to score the winner in an emphatic cameo from the Argentine youngster.
United have since commented on the matter, explaining: “The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established.”
“Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans.”
Speaking about the situation, Alex Wallace, chief writer at UTD Transfer Room, explained that it was time for Ronaldo to leave the club.
“I think that going through the formalities of getting rid of that contract is the only way that this situation should be handled,” Wallace explained.
“It’s not going to be cheap to get him out of his contract, but I don’t think that you can leave someone like that at the club until the end of the season.
“I think the exit strategy needs to be planned over the next few weeks. You’ve got time to be sorting that over the World Cup. The next few weeks would be a perfect time to sort the strategy ahead of the January transfer window.”