Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has given an insight into Cristiano Ronaldo‘s mindset in the months leading up to his exit from Old Trafford.
Ronaldo left Manchester United when his contract was cut short in November, a decision taken by mutual consent.
The striker had gone public with a TV interview blasting United’s shortcomings, and even hit out at manager Erik ten Hag, which made it clear he needed to leave.
This was what Ronaldo wanted at that stage, and his on-pitch performances had regressed, perhaps symptomatic of his unhappy state of mind.
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Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to be Manchester United captain
Treble winner Dwight Yorke explained, speaking to The National, that he spoke to Ronaldo earlier in 2022 when he spent 10 days at Manchester United as part of his ambassador role, and learned about how unhappy the Portugal forward was.
He said that Ronaldo felt the only way to steer United back on course was to be made club captain and be given greater responsibility and respect.
Yorke said: “Ronaldo gave me 30 minutes of his time and we talked in depth. I knew that there was an individual there that wasn’t happy with whatever was going on at the club. He expressed that in a very open and honest way to me. He was clearly unhappy.
“I know that there was someone who is really passionate and really loves Manchester United, and wanted to take Manchester United back to the top. But he clearly felt that the only way he could help the club get anywhere near that, I think he needed to be the leader.
“And I think, with Harry Maguire not being fully in the fold, I felt that Ronaldo didn’t think that was the right call; that he felt he should have led.”
Ronaldo did captain United twice in 2022, however, and these games ended in defeats, a 1-0 loss to Wolves and a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
There were reports of dressing room splits last season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick, with the captaincy a point of contention, with The Mail claiming that cliques in the squad emerged as a result.
12 months on and it couldn’t be more different. Even when Ronaldo was at United recently, the squad has looked totally united under Erik ten Hag’s guidance. Keeping Ronaldo around would would risked unsettling this harmony.
He was keen to leave, and he got the exit he wanted, recently signing with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
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