Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United did not go as planned after a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s hierarchy led to his contract being canceled
Jose Mourinho has revealed why Cristiano Ronaldo’s second season at Manchester United ended badly.
Ronaldo made a shocking return to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021, making the whole league stir with his decision. However, while he showed incredible finishing instincts in his first season, he gradually became frustrated with the management style of Ralf Rangnick and his successor Erik ten Hag.
The Portuguese legend, 39, eventually clashed with current Red Devils boss Ten Hag and was dropped from the squad. And their rocky relationship led to a bombshell TV interview in which Ronaldo took aim at Ten Hag and the direction of the club, leading to his contract being terminated at the end of 2022.
Ronaldo said of the Dutchman in his tell-all interview: “I don’t respect him [Ten Hag] because he doesn’t show respect to me. If you don’t respect me then I will never respect you.
“Not just the manager, but also two or three other people at the club [at senior executive level]. I feel betrayed. I don’t care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed. I feel like some people don’t want me here, not just this year but last season as well.”
To be fair, Ronaldo’s return to his homeland after 12 years away was an unusual failure even though he scored 27 goals. And now, legendary Portuguese coach Mourinho has given his own insight into how to manage a character and talent like Ronaldo.
Mourinho managed United from May 2016 to December 2018, as did Ronaldo before that at Real Madrid, where they won La Liga and Copa del Rey titles. His approach – one that lets the biggest stars play without a bit of tactical advice – appears to be different from that of Ten Hag.
Speaking to Ronaldo’s former team-mate Rio Ferdinand on Five, Mourinho said: “I think you don’t coach (Cristiano). Motivation you don’t need to give him. Ambition, responsibility, you can’t give it to him, technically you can’t give it to him.
