Manchester United announced Cristiano Ronaldo has left the club by mutual consent, in a very welcome statement for all parties involved.
Keeping Ronaldo was not an option after the way he disrespected manager Erik ten Hag. He had become an welcome distraction.
United’s response to Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan has been impressive. The club made clear from the very start that they would be taking action, and have done so decisively.
Ronaldo clearly wanted to force an exit, and he has got his way. Paul Scholes referred to it as ‘mission accomplished’.
United could not allow Ronaldo to stay and undermine Erik ten Hag. A long protracted legal battle would not have been in anybody’s interests either.
The club do deserve credit for the way they handled this, to a point. There was one crucial error.
One crucial mistake with Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure
It is better late than never – but Manchester United should have let Cristiano Ronaldo leave in the summer.
Ronaldo made clear he wanted to leave, with his agent Jorge Mendes negotiating to secure an exit on his behalf. He was unsuccessful.
It became clear by mid-August that Ronaldo was not going to find a club. United should have acted then to release him.
Ronaldo had earned plenty of goodwill at United that the club should have let him leave. Instead he stayed and became an unwelcome distraction.
All season it has been clear Ronaldo did not really want to be here. He even admitted to lacking motivation.
Keeping Ronaldo was not ideal – and if manager Erik ten Hag had not dealt with the situation so strongly, it would have consumed the club. Other managers would not have coped so well.
Ronaldo stay stopped United signing a striker
Manchester United could not sign a new striker in addition to the other transfer fees spent. The superstar’s wages were a staggering £500,000 per week.
One top target was PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo. In late August, The Independent reported Gakpo would only be signed if Cristiano Ronaldo was sold.
Ronaldo stayed, and United did not sign Gakpo. Now he is starring for Netherlands at the World Cup, with his price tag likely to increase and competition growing for his signature.
United have to sign a new forward now, it might even be Gakpo. But the team’s development has been delayed. Not enough to throw Erik ten Hag’s plans off course – but United could have been free of this distraction back in July if they chose.
Instead, stubbornly the club decided to deny Ronaldo his exit, and the last few months have been uncomfortable for all parties.
The club has got to the right outcome in the end – it just could have been a lot more straightforward if the club were more decisive back in the summer.
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