Cristiano Ronaldo has launched an extraordinary attack on Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag, claiming that he feels "betrayed" by the club and insisting that he does not "have respect" for Ten Hag.
The 37-year-old has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford during the January window, having fallen down the pecking order since Ten Hag's arrival during the summer.
Ronaldo was dropped from the first-team squad and forced to train with the reserves last month after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur and then leaving Old Trafford before the end of the game.
Ten Hag has since brought him back in from the wilderness, with three of his four Premier League starts this season coming after his public fallout with the Dutch boss.
However, just hours after the Red Devils played their final match before the World Cup break, an explosive interview with Piers Morgan has been released in which Ronaldo heavily criticises the club, his manager and former boss Ralf Rangnick.
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When asked whether he felt the club were trying to force him out, Ronaldo told Morgan: "Yes. Not only the coach, but the other two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.
"Honestly, I don't know if I should say this, but I don't care. People should hear the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed. Some people don't want me here not only this year, but last year too.
"I don't know what's going on. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I have seen not evolution in the club. The progress was zero.
"For example, an interesting point is how after a club like Manchester United sacked Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer], they bring in a sporting director Ralf Rangnick which is something nobody understands. This guy is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United bringing in a sporting director surprised not only me but all the world.
"Nothing changes. Not only the jacuzzi, the pool, even the gym. Even some points of technology, the kitchen, the chefs - who I appreciate, lovely people. They stop in time which surprised me a lot.
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"I thought I would see different things, technology, infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see many things I'm used to seeing when I'm 21, 22, 23. It surprised me a lot."
When pushed on his relationship with Ten Hag, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner refused to hold back and said that he had no respect for his manager.
"I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you," he added.
Ronaldo's former teammate Wayne Rooney was also in the firing line for the Portugal captain, after the former England international criticised his behaviour this season.
"I don't know why he criticises me so badly...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 said.
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Reports during the summer claimed that the former Real Madrid forward was keen to leave the club in order to play Champions League football this season, but Manchester United are understood to have blocked any exit.
Ronaldo's wages are also thought to be a stumbling block in any potential move away, although his interview on Sunday evening would suggest that his place at the club could now be untenable ahead of the January transfer window.
The highest-scoring international player of all time was left out of Man United's final two games before the World Cup break, with the official reason for his absence being an illness.
However, his comments heavily criticising the club where he spent six formative years between 2003 and 2009 have been released only hours after Alejandro Garnacho scored late to hand the Red Devils a 2-1 victory over Fulham in the final Premier League match before the stoppage.
A host of clubs, including Chelsea, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid were credited with an interest in Ronaldo during the summer, although no move materialised and Atletico and Napoli have since both distanced themselves from signing him.
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A return to boyhood club Sporting Lisbon has also been touted, but the Portuguese outfit would not be able to afford his wages unless his took a substantial pay cut.
Ronaldo did receive a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal during the summer too, although the all-time Champions League top scorer is keen to continue playing at the top level in Europe.
The striker was Man United's leading scorer last season with 24 in 38 games across all competitions, but he has been forced to settle for a reduced role this term and has only managed three goals in 16 outings overall.
One of those goals was his 700th in club football, however, a tally which includes 145 during his two spells at Old Trafford.
For club and country, Ronaldo has scored 818 goals in 1,142 appearances throughout his illustrious career, winning 32 trophies including five Champions Leagues and the 2016 European Championship with his country.
Ronaldo will hope to add a World Cup crown to his trophy cabinet in Qatar this winter, with Portugal drawn alongside Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
Barney Corkhill
