16 November,2022 07:59 AM IST | London | AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo says Manchester United's owners the Glazer family "don't care" about how successful the Premier League giants are on the pitch, in another salvo against the club.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been a peripheral figure this season under new manager Erik ten Hag and was disciplined for refusing to come on as a substitute. But the Portugal superstar had returned to the side in recent weeks and even captained the Red Devils in a 3-1 loss at Aston Villa. However, the 37-year-old was absent from the squad in Sunday's 2-1 win over Fulham in United's final match before a six-week break for the World Cup.
In an explosive interview with TalkTV on Sunday Ronaldo, who made his name at Old Trafford, said he felt "betrayed" by United and that he believed senior club figures were trying to oust him. In another part of the interview released on Monday he continued to wage war on the club where he made his name during his first stint at Old Trafford from 2003 to 2009.
The forward, who returned to the club last year, said he does not speak to the Glazers, the Americans who have owned United since 2005, and they do not have the club's best interests at heart. "The Glazers, they don't care about the club...professional sport. As you know, Manchester is a marketing club. They will get money from the marketing - the sport, it's, they don't really care, in my opinion. The fans, they're always right. I think the fans should know the truth, should know that the players want the best for the club. I want the best for the club. This is why I came to United," he said.
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles and the Champions League during his first stint at United, but the club have not won any silverware since 2017.
Ronaldo said there were "some things inside the club" that were preventing United from competing with rivals Manchester City and Liverpool and it would be hard for them to return to the top in the next few years. He has also rounded on former teammates Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville after criticism from the pair.
Also Read: Utd back Cristiano Ronaldo over improper conduct charge
"People can have [their] own opinion, but they don't really know what's going on. For example, inside the training ground and Carrington or even my life. They have to listen to my point of view as well. Because it's easy to criticise, but if you don't know the whole story, it's easy. They are not my friends," he said.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever