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On Saturday night, former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo shone brilliantly for Portugal, lifting his nation to a convincing 3-0 win over Turkey in their Euro 2024 group stage clash. He assisted none other than Bruno Fernandes for the third and last goal of the night.
Already 39, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has shown he still has plenty of energy left in the tank, even if he lacks the consistency of his youth. This could lead some Man United fans to question whether parting ways with Ronaldo was really the right move for the club, especially after he saved United by scoring 24 goals in the 2021/22 season.
Reflecting on Ronaldo’s relationship with his former managers, The Athletic noted that one of the key success factors when it came to managing the Portuguese icon was to “bruise his ego” and make him feel special because, after all, .
The article then referred to managers who have done this, pointing to the success Sir Alex Ferguson had in getting the best out of Ronaldo.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was the most gifted player I managed,” Ferguson admitted in his autobiography. “He surpassed all the other greats I coached at United. And I had a lot.”
From supporting Ronaldo after his father passed away in 2005 to taking the then-teenager’s side after United veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy pushed him after failing to pass him on the training pitch, it’s clear Ferguson meant what he said. Unfortunately, things would not always be this rosy.
During his final season at United, Ronaldo’s attitude changed, according to the article. Having reacted badly after being sent off earlier against Manchester City, Ronaldo looked visibly frustrated and Sir Alex simply stated after the match: “You can’t have it all your own way”.
By the time Ronaldo returned to United for a second spell in 2021, it looked like he was back in time to take Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to the next level, especially after his successful spells at Real Madrid and Juventus. Unfortunately, Solskjaer was unable to overcome his team’s struggles and was sacked. It became apparent early on that Ronaldo had less respect for interim manager Ralf Rangnick and his successor Erik ten Haag.
Apparently, Ten Hag wasn’t interested in giving Ronaldo the star treatment he had become so accustomed to over the years, and as he got less playing time, he wasn’t shy about making his feelings known.
During a pre-season friendly with Rajo Vallecano, Ronaldo left the field in frustration after Ten Haag decided to substitute him early in the second half, driving home immediately after leaving the field. Unfortunately, this type of protest has become a trend with the Portuguese star.
When Ten Hag decided to bring on Ronaldo for just a few minutes in United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, the Portuguese striker refused to come on, opting instead to storm down the tunnel. He was then left out of the next match against Chelsea and did not take part in first team training.
Ronaldo once again let his ego spoil his relationship with the manager and the club as a whole, and this was followed by his infamous interview with Piers Morgan, where he criticized Ten Hag and highlighted the club’s decline since Sir Alex’s departure.
Unfortunately, Ten Hag have accepted that Ronaldo’s time at Old Trafford is over and his potential future contribution is no longer on the table. “He wanted to leave, it was quite clear. And when the player definitely does not want to be in this club, then he has to leave,” admitted the Dutch manager, despite the desire for Ronaldo to stay at the club.
“The interview — as a club, you cannot accept. To take that step, he knew the consequences,” Ten Haag stated relentlessly, and rightly so.
While Ronaldo’s talent has certainly stood the test of time and he has undoubtedly played a major role in much of United’s glory at the start of the 21st century, it is his inflated ego that makes him unmanageable, especially with Ten Hag in charge.
As United look to the future with Ineos and Ten Hague leading the overhaul the club desperately needs, there is no room for selfish behavior or players who feel they are bigger than the rest of the club.
So while Ronaldo continues to put in stunning performances at times and United suffer from a lack of strikers, it’s important to remember that more drama in the dressing room is the last thing the Red Devils need.
Ronaldo has unfortunately burned bridges with United, especially with his inappropriate interview. While he may occasionally show impressive results at Euro 2024, it is important to remember his past behavior and understand why United are better off without him.
While he could certainly be thanked and appreciated for his many contributions over the years, Ronaldo’s time at United is best left in the past, especially as the club enters a new era where Ineos is focused on building a young, ambitious squad capable of developing a bright long-term future.
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