Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness disagree over Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘bizarre’ interview

Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness have had their say on Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial interview.
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Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness have very different views on the Cristiano Ronaldo situation at Manchester United.

Ronaldo gave an ‘unauthorised’ interview to Piers Morgan recently, and the first clips of the interview emerged on Sunday night, taking the saga to new heights. During the interview, Ronaldo claims Erik ten Hag and others have tried to push him out of the club, leaving him feeling ‘betrayed’.

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It was a bold move from Ronaldo, who has surely called time on his involvement for United with the interview, which has been released just before he jets off to Qatar with Portugal, allowing him to escape the fallout at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are left with a PR disaster, calling an emergency meeting in attempt to find a resolution.

After seeing the interview clips, Sky Sports pundit Carragher felt Ronaldo was intentionally trying to get ‘sacked’ by United.

“I just thought the comments were bizarre’,” Carragher said. “They were bang out of order considering with the timing of it as well on the back of Manchester United getting a winning goal with the last kick of the game [against Fulham]. It gives them an excitement over the next month for when the league starts again.

“He wants to be sacked, that’s obvious. He told the club in the summer that he wanted to leave, which is football – these things happen. There were no takers, maybe because of his wages or the price Manchester United wanted.

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“I think he knows that’s going to be the same in this next transfer window and maybe the following summer and he is now trying to be sacked or wants to leave on a free. That’s the only way he’s going to get out.

“United don’t need the hassle of Ronaldo. I think they should sack him or move him on by giving him a free transfer. At the moment, they’re trying to build something that is not trying to win the Premier League or the Champions League right now. The manager will want to push for those honours in the next two or three years and Ronaldo is not going to be around.”

Meanwhile, talkSPORT’s Souness has taken a very different stance. Asked if he defends Ronaldo, he said: “I certainly do. I come back to it, there’s a meeting, two people speak, two people leave the room with an understanding and someone has not kept their word.

Ronaldo speaking to Morgan Ronaldo speaking to Morgan
Ronaldo speaking to Morgan

“He has never spoken. He feels it is time for him to come out and tell his side of the story. This is a player who in many people’s eyes is the greatest player to have ever kicked a ball. I think he has been told a story and the manager has not kept it.

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“Then you look at what has happened after this so-called agreement… he doesn’t bring him on against City out of respect. A couple of weeks later against Tottenham he wants to bring him on with two minutes to go when the game is won, what can Ronaldo do there? And then he makes him captain.

“Looking at it from both sides, I’ve been a player, I’ve been a manager, I think the player has a grievance and he is entitled to air his grievance.”

Souness added: “In five years’ time, no one will remember Ten Hag. In 55 years’ time, we will still be talking about Ronaldo.”