Cristiano Ronaldo might have divided Manchester United fans over the end of his second Old Trafford spell, but he is a reminder of the club’s plight under the Glazers.
The 40-year-old Manchester United legend made his exit from the Premier League club for a second time in 2022 after his major falling out with Erik ten Hag.
Cristiano Ronaldo had returned to Old Trafford during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign after the Red Devils signed the Portuguese forward from Juventus in 2021.
However, the former Juventus and Real Madrid star’s run at the Premier League club took a turn for the worse after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as United manager.
Ronaldo sat down with Piers Morgan in 2022 for a bombshell interview and the ex-United superstar pulled no punches ahead of his departure from the Red Devils.
Former United teammates Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney were in the firing line, while Ronaldo was also critical of Erik ten Hag and, of course, the Glazers.
Cristiano Ronaldo reminds Man Utd fans of the impact of the Glazer ownership of the Old Trafford outfit
During his initial interview with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo was incredibly vocal about Manchester United failing to modernise their facilities since his first spell.
“Nothing changes,” he said on TalkTV in 2022.
“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.”
Ronaldo continued: “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.”
Fast-forward to 2024 and United legend Ronaldo linked up again with Morgan for the 60-year-old outspoken TV presenter’s ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’ channel.
What Cristiano Ronaldo has now said about Man Utd shows the cracks that emerged under the Glazers
The Portugal icon, who is with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, once again reminded United fans of the woes of the Glazer ownership with the problems at the club.
“I’m sad, because the club is one of the most important clubs in the world – and a club that I still have in my heart – because of the obvious reasons you have to follow with intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future as Manchester United,” he told Piers Morgan Uncensored, as per Sky Sports.
“So many years ago, Nicky Butt, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, [David] Beckham, they became big players, but they had youth.”
Ronaldo added: “So, Manchester United right now, they don’t have a structure. I hope that changes in the present-future, because the potential of the club is amazing.
“It’s one of the most important clubs of the century.”
United fans – at least some of them – welcomed the arrival of Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford for the simple fact that it shook up the Glazer control at the club.
The Glazers remain the majority owners of the club, but United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has tried his best to show Ineos’ effort in trying to turn things around.
The Carrington training complex underwent a major refurb under the Ineos-led regime and the Red Devils are playing catch-up with other clubs in football.
Ronaldo has remained critical of the state of United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and the finger rightfully deserves to be pointed in the direction of the Glazers.
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