Ronaldo feels angry and disrespected, and he’s not going to stay silent any longer.
Ronaldo has hit out at United in a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, which will be released in full on Wednesday, criticizing manager Erik ten Hag, former boss Ralf Rangnick, Rooney and the club.
Ronaldo has been the subject of a great deal of scrutiny this season, having pushed for a move away from United ahead of the August kick-off.
After staying at Old Trafford, the United great fell out of favour under new manager Erik ten Hag and was widely criticized for refusing to appear as a substitute against Tottenham.
Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel during that match and was subsequently suspended for United’s next game.
Ten Hag has reintegrated Ronaldo, but his role remains the subject of debate, with former strike partner Rooney weighing in this week.
While some of Ronaldo’s other team-mates have defended him, Rooney said the 37-year-old’s behaviour was “not acceptable” and an “unwanted distraction”.
Now, in a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo has responded.
“I don’t know why he criticises me so badly,” he said in an interview that will be broadcast in full next week.
“Probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level.
“I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him – which is true…”
Ronaldo joined United for the first time in 2003, a year before Rooney was signed from Everton, and the pair won the 2007-08 Champions League together.
While Ronaldo will be heading to the World Cup with Portugal, Rooney – England’s record goalscorer – is preparing for his first full season in charge of MLS side D.C. United.
As well as poking fun at Rooney, Ronaldo used his interview as a platform to discuss how he has been “betrayed” by United, adding he does not respect Ten Hag.
Cristiano Ronaldo alleged some members of Manchester United’s hierarchy did not believe his reasoning for missing pre-season when his daughter was in the hospital.
Ronaldo claimed two senior members at United doubted his daughter, Bella, was sick with bronchitis just three months after her twin brother had died.
“I spoke with the director and the president of Man Utd and they kind of didn’t believe that something was going wrong, which made me feel bad,” the Portugal captain said.
The forward missed United’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia after being granted additional time off by Ten Hag.
When pressed to confirm senior United figures did not believe he was telling the truth, Ronaldo added: “They believe me but in the same way [shakes head]…
“I am never going to change the health of my family for a football. Now, or 10 years behind or forward.
“And it is something that really hurt me because they doubted my word that I was struggling, especially Bella and Geo [Georgina Rodriguez, Ronaldo’s girlfriend].
“We had one week in the hospital because Bella had a big problem and I didn’t go to the pre-season because of that.
“I didn’t want to leave my family to do the pre-season because I didn’t think it was fair to leave my family for a pre-season. This is why I didn’t go.”
Muitos parabéns meu amor! 🎂❤️😘 pic.twitter.com/mwer7HpRzW
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) November 12, 2022
Ronaldo stated in an Instagram post on Monday that his full focus is on achieving World Cup glory with Portugal, who face Ghana on November 24 in their Group H opener.
