RONALDO & MANCHESTER UNITED FINALLY PARTED WAYS AFTER THEIR MUTUAL AGREEMENT
In a statement, Manchester United announced that Cristiano Ronaldo will resign from the club "with immediate effect". The Red Devils have described the parting as a "mutual agreement.". In light of Ronaldo's highly controversial interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV last week, this development is not entirely unexpected. Following that interview, United released a statement, stating that the matter would be addressed promptly. The extent of their actions is now apparent.
Having earned a reputation as one of Europe's brightest young talents at Sporting CP, Ronaldo joined United at the age of 18. Prior to a now iconic pre-season friendly against Sporting in Lisbon in 2003, United had already been keeping a close eye on the youngster, but the trip and the performance of Ronaldo in that game accelerated their approach and ensured they did not return to Manchester without an agreement.
The official statement by Manchester https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1595107357159297029
The Portuguese footballer was initially inconsistent at Old Trafford, but by 2005 he was showing signs that he would soon become a world-class player. His breakout season of 2006/07 is a good example of where his potential was turned into a game-changing impact. That season, Ronaldo scored 23 goals in all competitions and won the Premier League. During the following season, he scored 42 goals as United won the Premier League and the Champions League. As the club made it three wins in a row in the Premier League in his final season before an £80 million transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, he set a new world record transfer fee.
In his own era, the once skinny kid from Madeira achieved an incredible level of world-class status, earning him the status of one of the greatest players of all time, scoring over 450 goals in nine years and winning four more Champions League titles with Los Blancos. Following his move to Juventus in 2018, he added two more domestic league titles in a third country to his bulging trophy cabinet, before he decided to return to United in 2021 for a 'homecoming'.
As Ronaldo approaches his 37th birthday, he scored 24 goals across a number of competitions for a United team that struggled throughout the 2021/22 campaign. However, it was becoming increasingly apparent by the summer of 2022 that cracks were beginning to appear. The veteran requested to leave, but a lack of suitors forced him to stay, and new manager Erik ten Hag had fresh ideas that seemed to exclude him. It further exacerbated the fractures when Ronaldo refused to enter the game as a substitute against Tottenham and stormed off along Old Trafford's streets while the game was still in progress. During an interview with TalkTV soon after, Ronaldo also expressed disappointment with the club's lack of progress since he left in 2009. He also appeared to lack respect for Ten Hag in his comments about the club's failure to improve since 2009.
The Official statement by Cristino Ronaldo
The 29-year-old is playing for Portugal in the World Cup's Group H opener on Thursday against Ghana. As of now, it appears that the forward will do so as an unattached player. His second spell at United was a contentious and difficult one, in which he scored 27 goals in 54 appearances. The impact of Ronaldo on the team has been extensively discussed and written about, even though he has scored goals and often performed well individually.
During this season, this matter reached a head, with new manager Erik ten Hag often benching Ronaldo. Ronaldo complained about this issue in the Morgan interview, and now it appears that his statement has burned any remaining bridge with the club. As he approaches his 38th birthday, his career is not expected to end as he has previously expressed a desire to continue playing beyond the age of 40. At this point, it is unclear where the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will settle.
By Rashmi Goel
