Just when things seemed to be calming down with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, the bombshell interview given by the player to Piers Morgan has put relations between the two parties at an all-time low.
The full interview hasn't even been released yet, but the snippets that have been are remarkable. Ronaldo accused the club of attempting to push him out, admitted he does not respect Erik ten Hag, and generally derided everything about Manchester United.
You'd imagine this will signal the end of his time at Old Trafford.
Graeme Souness defends Cristiano Ronaldo's Piers Morgan interview
While some of what Cristiano Ronaldo said about the club's facilities not being up to scratch is true, there is no doubt that his reputation is the one that has been most damaged by this interview.
He accused the club of pushing him out, despite the fact that he was attempting to leave all summer. Saying he does not respect Erik ten Hag, who has done a very good job since arriving at the club, will not go down well with teammates or supporters. As for his comments on Ralf Rangnick, they wreak of someone who lacks both class and self awareness.
Piers Morgan appeared on talkSPORT this morning, confirming that the player had approached him in order to air his grievances in public.
👀 “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
It is clear that Ronaldo wanted to get his side of the story out there to the public, something Graeme Souness said he was entitled to do.
Appearing on talkSPORT, he said he had every right to air his grievances in a public forum.
🤔 Jim: “Surely you can no longer defend Ronaldo after this!?”
🔥 Graeme: “I certainly do! The player has a grievance and he is entitled to air it!”
Graeme Souness says Ronaldo’s RIGHT to say what he has said about #MUFC in his interview with @PiersMorgan! pic.twitter.com/bdMcoRC8U1— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 14, 2022
I certainly do (defend him).
I come back to it, there was a meeting and two people left the room with an understanding. Someone has not kept their word.
He has never spoken and he feels it's time for him to come out and tell his side of the story...
This is a player who is arguably, in many people's eyes, the greatest that has ever kicked a ball. That matters.
I think he has been told a story and the manager has not kept it. When you look at what has happened after this so called 'agreement', he doesn't bring him on against City 'out of respect. A couple of weeks later, he wanted him to go on against Tottenham with two minutes to go when the game is won. What can Ronaldo do there?
Then he makes him captain? For me looking at it from the outside from both sides, I've been a manager and a player, I think the player has a grievance. He is entitled to air his grievance.
As for what comes next for Ronaldo, you'd imagine he has played his last game for Manchester United.
Where he goes from here remains to be seen. You'd imagine that there aren't many clubs out there that would take on an ego as big as his, especially when it is no longer matches by returns on the pitch.
SEE ALSO: 5 Maddest Ronaldo Comments From His Crazy Interview With Piers Morgan
