By Liam Wood, MANCHESTER UK
Gary Neville already warned
Manchester United that things could get 'messy' with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Five-time Ballon d'Or
winner Ronaldo stunned Old Trafford when snippets from his bombshell interview with Piers
Morgan emerged on social media last night. In their in-depth chat, the
37-year-old told the divisive media figure he had been "betrayed"
by United while Erik ten Hag and other key figures at the club
"want to force him out".
It has been a headline-driven
season for the Portugal captain despite his bit-part role on the pitch. He
expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford for a second time in the summer,
missed their pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia and then refused to come
off the bench during a win over Tottenham.
Despite public support from
ex-teammates and high-profile pundits with United connections, Neville has not
been as defensive towards the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar. His
comments led to Ronaldo blanking Neville pitch-side before the
West Ham game, but was the 47-year-old right all along?
Speaking when Ronaldo refused
to come off the bench, Sky Sports pundit Neville said: "It has been a big week for
Erik ten Hag. I don't think he was left with any other option [but to suspend
him].
"That's the second time
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Old Trafford and got in his car before his side have
got back into the changing room. I have to say, as someone in the dressing
room, it's something that's unacceptable.
"When you look at whether
Cristiano should be selected, Manchester United are better without him - and
Erik ten Hag knows that - so the only thing that Cristiano and the club can do
is get together in the next week and end the relationship. Cristiano is too
good of a player and character and the club have got to move on."
Addressing the same subject a
few days later on his popular podcast, Neville added: "The best
thing for him to do this week is to go in and see Richard Arnold, John Murtough
and Erik ten Hag, call a meeting and say; 'My time's up here. Let me go to the
World Cup, let me leave in January and choose a club'.
"We don't want this messy
ending to something that could be so great, which is Ronaldo's relationship and
feeling about the club and vice versa. I get Cristiano's point as well but
there's a way to go about it. He needs to end it now for both parties. It can't
go beyond January 1."
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