Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious departure from Old Trafford during Erik ten Hag’s first season, former Manchester United coach Mike Phelan has offered his assessment.
After Ralf Rangnick’s problems as Manchester United interim manager, the Dutchman Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s Portuguese striker, had a falling out.
As Anthony Martial became fitter and started more often for Manchester United than Ronaldo did, the Portuguese striker was finally taken out of the first team.
In 2022, the Portuguese striker made headlines when he spilled the beans in a YouTube interview with Piers Morgan. Shortly after, United chose to terminate his contract.
At Villa Park on November 19, during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United watches from the stands.
Picture courtesy of Getty Images and Simon Stacpoole of Offside
Regarding United’s choice, Phelan
Former United coach Mike Phelan, who worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, thinks the attacker, who is 39 years old, could have been correct about the club, according to talkSPORT.
“I believed he made a valid point,” Phelan said. Undoubtedly, parts of the practice field were showing signs of wear and tear.
He has very high standards; he’s a high maintenance gamer. Plus, he departed Manchester United having clearly learned a great deal, and he went on to learn much more.
Everyone would be expecting more if you returned. You should adapt to the changing times. It was early in his United career, and I don’t believe he noticed that.
The sentiments surrounding the place and the players should have been apparent to him when we brought him back. Everyone in that locker room, including the best players, wanted him.
Having a world-class talent in that locker room was an excellent choice. And there was a tremendous response from the backers. It was an impressive lift. I just believe that his tenure with the club was over.
asserted by Ronaldo
During the now-infamous interview with Morgan, the Portuguese striker said that the club’s facilities hadn’t improved much since he departed for Real Madrid in 2009.
According to a story from The Telegraph, the club is planning to undertake extensive renovations at Carrington, its training base, this summer. This would seem to be an endorsement of United’s statement by INEOS, the Red Devils’ new minority owners.
Although the Portuguese striker may have approached the situation incorrectly, his remarks generated quite a stir and seem to be right on as the new minority owners want to establish their influence at Old Trafford.
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