Everyone in the soccer world, or just in the world, has heard of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a good-looking footballer whose claim to fame isn’t his perfectly quaffed hair or buff body. No, it’s his incredible talent, perfect technique, and long-lasting career that has spanned multiple decades. But, even Ronaldo can’t argue that his time at the Premier League club Manchester United didn’t go as planned.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Career Stagnated at Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford.#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 22, 2022
If you were a Premier League fan or a die-hard fan of the Reds, then you were no doubt overjoyed to hear that the infamous Cristiano Ronaldo was coming to the club. This excitement quickly turned to dismay once Erik Ten Hag, the United manager, seemed to have other ideas in mind when Ronaldo arrived.
Ronaldo made his way to the huge club when he was in the ‘later stage’ of his career. Or so everyone thought. However, his physical prowess, speed, and goal-scoring ability indicated he didn’t want to slow down. He was a huge free agent in the transfer market and helped Portugal qualify for the UEFA Euros tournament.
So, why did Erik Ten Hag seem to have a chip on his shoulder about Ronaldo arriving from the get-go?
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Was Eric Bailly Pro-Ronaldo or Pro-Ten Hag during Manchester United’s tenure?
Eric Bailly, Ronaldo’s ex-teammate at Manchester United, backs Cristiano Ronaldo over the manager. Just like most people would think, a legend of the game deserves respect. This includes discussions with the management staff, higher playing time, and potentially special treatment. Even though it might seem unfair, Ronaldo has earned it with his illustrious career.
Bailly was appalled at the way Ronaldo was treated at the club.
‘He (Cristiano Ronaldo) was the best player in the world for me. He contributed a lot to the club and a player like Cristiano deserves to feel important.’
It seems as though Ten Hag’s ego may have gotten in the way of something great. Manchester United fans justified his poor treatment of Ronaldo by saying Cristiano Ronaldo had a bad attitude or that his career was waning. However, after leaving Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 54 goals in 2023 – a bit of a ‘told you so’ to Erik Ten Hag.
The legend has now ventured to Al Nassr in the Saudi league, where he has netted 29 goals and contributed 10 assists in just 24 matches in 2023-2024.