(Football news) In a continuation of the explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo said that he felt “provoked” by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman asked him to come on with three minutes on the clock against Tottenham Hotspur. The 37 year old was suspended for the next three games, a judgement that he considers to be harsh despite expressing his regret about walking off while the game was going on. Ronaldo also said that Ten Hag “does not respect” him in the way he deserves and that he has “zero respect” for the manager.
Ronaldo also revealed that he rejected a €350m (£305m) offer to play in Saudi Arabia for two seasons and claimed that he rejected many offers to leave Manchester United in the summer. The 37 year old revealed that he would ideally like to retire at the age of 40 but suggested that his future at Manchester United is in doubt, saying "probably good to have a new chapter" in his career. The Portuguese footballer also said that he would be “happy” to see Arsenal win the Premier League if not Manchester United and expressed his admiration for how the Gunners have performed this season.
In the interview, Ronaldo said “You don't put me on against Manchester City because of respect for my career and you want to put me on for three minutes against Tottenham? It doesn't make sense. I think he did it on purpose. I felt provoked not only because of that game, but before. He doesn't respect [me] the way I should deserve. But it is what it is. This is why probably, the game against Tottenham, I left. I will be honest with you, it's something that I regret, leaving the stadium [against Tottenham]. Probably, or maybe no, I don't know. It's difficult to tell you 100 percent but let's say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach. A coach to put me in three minutes in a game [is] not allowed for me. Sorry, I'm not that kind of player. I know what I can give to the teams.
“Don't tell me that the top players, the guys who want everything, the key players will play three minutes. Come on, this is unacceptable. After what they keep saying before, that they respect me. For me it was not respect, this is why I take this decision I regret. I apologised to my team-mates for the situation, I did a post – I regret leaving the stadium. I regret and my team-mates know what I felt, and I apologised. The coach didn't have respect for me. So this is why the relationship, it's in that way. He keeps saying in the press that he came to me, he likes me blah, blah, blah. But that's only for the press. One hundred per cent. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never going to have respect for you."
Speaking about his relationship with Erik ten Hag, Ronaldo said “I understand that in a new job [you try to make an impression.] Manchester was so bad in the last five years that they should clean the house, let's say it in that way. But the way they approach, the way the press make this so big. I really understand in the beginning because I didn't do the pre-season, I didn't start to play, but going further than that. Other things happen that people don't know. And I'm not hiding that the empathy with the coach is not good. I'm honest."
When asked about an offer from Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo said “It's true, yes, it's true. In that moment [I turned it down], yes. They [the press] say many, many garbage things. Jorge Mendes has more than 100 players and they go to Chelsea and Arsenal, but they always mention Cristiano Ronaldo, 'they offer Cristiano'. Let's be honest, who is the most expensive salary player in the Premier League ever in history – it's me, even at 37 years old.
“They [the media] even offered me to Sporting [Lisbon] or Napoli. I will be honest with you, I didn't have many, many clubs but I have many, many offers from other clubs. But what the press keeps saying, the garbage, is that nobody wants me, which is completely wrong. And I was happy here [at United] to be honest, I was motivated to have a great season here [at United]. But they continue to repeat that nobody wants Cristiano. How they don't want a player who scored 32 goals last year, [including] with the national team?"
When asked about his future with Manchester United, Ronaldo replied “It's difficult to tell right now, because my mood is, right now, [focused on] the World Cup. It's probably my last World Cup, of course, my fifth World Cup. I don't know what's going to happen after the World Cup, but as I told you before, and I will say again, the fans will always be in my heart. And I hope they will be by my side, even if I [come] back, or if I'm not back, or if I stay or whatever. "Nobody's perfect. Episodes in the life we all have is part of being human beings, is part of me being a human being and [being a] father as well. I always will commit mistakes.
"But I don't know, it's hard to tell right now what's going to happen after the World Cup because my focus is only for the World Cup, for the Portugal national team. My motivation is not the same [at United] as it was a few months ago. I hope to change. I am not saying that I need a fresh challenge, but let's see. I cannot answer right [on his Man Utd future] now because my focus is for the World Cup. But I don't know, maybe it's good for Manchester and it's probably good for me as well to have a new chapter. Probably, but I don't know.
"If I will be back I will be the same Cristiano but I hope people will be on my side and let me shine like I have done at all the clubs in the years. When I arrived at Manchester United, I always [wanted to] be available to help the team do the good things, to put in the right spots, to compete with the best teams. But it's hard when they cut your legs and they don't like you to shine and they don't listen to your advice. I think I have words to advise the club because the trophies are one individual and collective. I think I can help a lot, but when the infrastructure is not good…"
Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo reveals that he was ‘close’ to joining Manchester City
