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Cristiano Ronaldo has shaken the soccer world with an explosive interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored for TalkTV.
The 37-year-old striker has taken aim at his Manchester United colleagues and said that he is being forced out of the club and feels "betrayed" by some of the senior officials there.
With the FIFA World Cup in Qatar about to start and Ronaldo spending much of the coming month with his Portugal teammates, he sat down with host Piers Morgan—who is a vocal fan of Manchester United's rivals Arsenal—and told him how he feels about the club he is currently playing for.
The interview will be aired in two parts on Wednesday and Thursday, and there are a number of bombshell moments already shared on social media.
Here are some of Ronaldo's comments, which could make his time at the club untenable once he is back from the World Cup.
Being 'Forced Out', Feeling 'Betrayed'
In the interview, Ronaldo says that there are people at Manchester United who would rather see him leave the club.
Morgan asks him directly: "Are they trying to force you out?"
The soccer star replies: "Yes, not only the coach but there are two or three guys there around the club."
Morgan prods further: "At the senior executive level?"
To which Ronaldo replies: "Yes. I have felt betrayed."
Morgan then asks: "And you think they are trying to get rid of you?"
Ronaldo then confirms that this is the case. "Honestly, I should not say that but I don't know. Listen, I don't care, people should always listen. The truth. Yes, I feel betrayed and I felt that some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year too."
He Alleges Manchester United Didn't Believe His Daughter Was Ill
Ronaldo says that the reason why he missed some of Manchester United's pre-season training was due to his daughter being unwell and that the club didn't believe him.
He alleges: "The executives at Manchester United didn't seem to 100 percent believe my newborn daughter was ill. It's painful because they didn't take my word for it".
"That's why I didn't attend the pre-season preparation camp. I had to be there for my family".
Fans Deserve the Truth
Ronaldo says that the fans need to know the truth about what is happening behind the scenes.
"In my opinion, it will be hard for Man United to be in the top of the game in the next two or three years.
"I want the best for the club, the fans deserve the truth. You have things inside the club which don't help Man Utd reach the top level".
He Says Owners Need to Go
Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family, who also control the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which they bought for a then-record $192 million.
Ronaldo believes they need to leave United, saying: "The owners of the club, Glazers... they don't care — I mean professionally, sportingly. They don't care.
"There are some things into the club that don't help Man Utd to reach top level".
Ronaldo adds: "I never spoke to them, never!".
Club Not Moving Forward
Ronaldo says that since Sir Alex Ferguson retired from being the manager of the soccer team, the club has not moved on since then.
He says: "Nothing has changed here since Sir Alex left. When I decided to return to Manchester United, I followed my heart".
"Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: 'It's impossible for you to come to Manchester City!'
"And I said: 'Ok, boss'".
It Was the Same Nearly 20 Years Ago
Echoing his previous quote, Ronaldo says that the facilities have not changed in the past 17 years, since he first arrived at the club from Sporting Lisbon in Portugal.
He says: "Nothing changed since I left. The pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym, even some technology. Even the chefs who I appreciate, lovely people.
"I thought I would see new technology, infrastructure. I saw things I saw when I was 20!"
It All Needs to Be Destroyed
Ronaldo believes there is only one way that the club can change and that is by starting over again.
"As Picasso said, 'You've to destroy it to rebuild it'... and if they start with me, for me, it's not a problem.
"A club of this size should be at the top, but this is not the case, there is no excuses".
Poor Preparation
Ronaldo criticizes the preparation given by management before games and gave an example of coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who brought Ronaldo back to United, and the bizarre methods he sometimes used.
He says: "I remember before one match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn't do a team talk in the dressing room. He just put on a video of his goal in the 1999 Champions League final. We lost 5-0."
He Says Wayne Rooney Is Jealous
Ronaldo alleges that criticism from former teammate Wayne Rooney was triggered by jealousy.
Speaking about his relationship with Rooney, who coaches D.C. United in the MSL, Ronaldo agrees that Rooney concluding his playing career early might be a reason for the criticism.
Ronaldo says: "Probably, as he finished his career in his 30s and I'm still playing a high level. I am not going to say that I am looking better than him, but it's true.
"It's hard to listen to that criticism and negative from people who played with you, for example, Gary Neville as well.
"People can have their own opinion but they don't really know what is going on, for example, inside the training ground and Carrington or even my life. They should listen to not just one point of view, they have to listen to my point of view as well because it is easy to criticize if you don't know the whole story."
Morgan asks Ronaldo if they are his friends and is there a line, to which Ronaldo replies: "They are not my friends... they have a job in television in which they must criticize to be more famous. I really don't understand."
The host wonders if they used Ronaldo's name for their own advantage, to which the Portuguese star answers: "I think they take advantage of that because they are not stupid and I really understand and carry on with my life with the criticism and people not wanting to speak good about you.
"But it is hard when you see people who was in the dressing room with you criticize in that way.
"I'm not hurt, I am not going to sleep badly because of the criticism. But it is not good to listen to that. Disappointing."
Newsweek has reached out to Manchester United for comment.
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