Manchester United have reportedly been left 'extremely disappointed' by the comments made by Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview which was revealed on Sunday night.
The Portuguese superstar has endured a controversial four months at Old Trafford, a period which begun with his alleged request to leave United due to a lack of Champions League football.
Since then, the 37-year-old has still made 10 starts and six substitute appearances in all competitions, but his future has been a constant topic for debate amid his time out of Erik ten Hag's first XI and his decision to refuse to be introduced as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in October.
However, after making four starts in succession, Ronaldo has missed the last two fixtures, allegedly through illness, and it now appears that the legendary figure may have played his last game for the Red Devils.
On Sunday evening, just hours after United had recorded a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Fulham in the Premier League, Piers Morgan revealed snippets of a 90-minute long interview with Ronaldo.
© Reuters
The forward was shown launching a scathing attack on the club and, in particular, head coach Erik ten Hag, who he says that 'he does not respect and has been shown no respect'.
Ronaldo also criticised the temporary appointment of Ralf Rangnick late last year, as well as the perceived lack of 'technological' advances behind the scenes at the club's Carrington training ground.
According to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol, United only found out an interview had been conducted shortly before its release.
The North West giants are said to have been preparing to travel back to Manchester from London when it was discovered that Ronaldo had publicly spoken about his unhappiness at the club.
© Reuters
On Twitter, Solhekol said: "Erik ten Hag and Manchester United players are extremely disappointed with the manner and timing of Cristiano Ronaldo's interview. Club only found out about the interview as they were preparing to fly back from London this evening after the Fulham game.
"Manchester United are likely to now consider all their options regarding Ronaldo. Management and players don't understand why he has said what he has said. They are hugely disappointed that he would disrespect the club, his manager and teammates in this way."
"Ronaldo was told on Thursday that he would not be in the starting XI against Fulham but he would have been in the squad. He told the club he was ill. No one at United has ever disrespected Ronaldo - even after he asked to leave & after he refused to come on as a sub v [versus] Spurs."
As a result of the World Cup, Ronaldo will now spend the upcoming weeks in Qatar with Portugal, but the ramifications of his interview are likely to be felt for the foreseeable future.
United are not due back in action until December 20 when they face Burnley in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Darren Plant
