THE END OF AN ERROR FOR RON

‘No respect’ TV blast is exit line

PART way through Cristiano Ronaldo's `scorched earth' TV interview on his second coming at Manchester United, the striker insisted with a straight face that the problem at the dub was that "nothing has changed". It came in the middle of a withering critique of the gym, the facilities and the training ground infrastructure and even included a swipe at the output of the chefs, despite them being "lovely persons".

The irony of that statement will not be lost on plenty at United, who might reasonably counter that if the Portugal striker was able to shine a similarly critical and unforgiving light on his own output, neither player nor club would be in this unedifying situation.

The reality, even if Ronaldo cannot see it, is that much had changed for him as a player, since first-time round, left. Sadly, had he been able to accept that, his legacy at Old Trafford could still have been one of respect and enduring gratitude. As it is, after agitating for a move away, refusing to play, and now alleging "betrayal", as well as putting on record that he has no respect for manger Erik ten Hag, he can surely never play for the club again. When the tension and dust has settled, both sides may well accept that they made mistakes. If they can agree on one thing, it will be that both let their hearts rule their heads 15 months ago.

United just could not resist snatching Ronaldo from under Manchester City's noses, in a move signed off under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, when the club mistakenly believed reconnecting with the era of Sir Alex Ferguson, far right, was the way forward.

And the striker was as culpable, refusing to accept that his powers were almost certainly already on the wane at Juventus, before his £13million switch — or that they have dimmed ever further since.

Now Ronaldo’s Talk TV interview, coming on the back of his public clashes with the new manager, will surely see both parties sever ties one way or another in January. In the interview, he alleged that there were people in the club trying to force him out, not only this year but last season. He questioned the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as manager. More damagingly, Ronaldo maintained that Ten Hag was at the forefront of those wanting him out of the dressing room, and insisted he had “no respect” for the current United manager. Even before this, with Ten Hag achieving forward momentum with United, there is little appetite to keep the Portugal veteran, whether or not that means paying off his £500,000-a-week deal in full. Ronaldo could just have drawn a line under a second stint that yielded 27 goals in 54 appearances. His ‘debut’ double against Newcastle in September 2021, and his late strikes in the Champions League in four group-stage games against Villarreal and Atalanta that autumn, showed he was still big-stage box office.

Hat-tricks against Tottenham in March and Norwich in April showed he could still bend a game to his will. But this season, much to his obvious disgust, he has spent the past few months on the outside, starting just four Premier League games and generally trying to hold back the rising tide of reality. A valedictory bow at the World Cup remains the dream. Portugal’s powerful squad go to Qatar with genuine hopes. No doubt that appeals to Ronaldo’s sense of his rightful place in football history. And even if his best days are gone, you would not put it past him to bow out in style.