Match of the Day pundit slams Cristiano Ronaldo over ‘baffling’ interview

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Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas reckons Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Old Trafford is up.

Match of the Day pundit Jermaine Jenas is not impressed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to do an interview with Piers Morgan.

Manchester United find themselves managing a crisis with Ronaldo, with the Portuguese superstar unsettled at Old Trafford. Ronaldo was heavily linked with a move away in the summer, but after failing to secure a departure, the veteran has returned to Old Trafford disgruntled. It has been claimed that Ronaldo wants to leave United, but in clips of an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, the star claims Erik ten Hag and the club have tried to force him out, leaving him feeling ‘betrayed’.

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It’s a bold move for Ronaldo to speak out during the season, and the timing is convenient for him, given he is now away with the Portugal national team for the World Cup. The interview has left United scrambling to clear up a PR crisis, and Match of the Day pundit Jenas is not impressed.

“I’m totally baffled and confused as to why he’s done this interview,” Jenas said on Match Of The Day 2. “The timing of it - I think it leads you to see how Cristiano Ronaldo is obviously feeling right and how he’s felt all season. We’ve seen nothing but almost petulance throughout the whole year with the walking down the tunnel. Today he was supposedly ill. Now he’s doing interviews with Piers Morgan. He’s a frustrated player.

“I’ve said from day one, the whole situation has been mismanaged by the club with Cristiano Ronaldo this year. Whether he feels lied to or not, today just doesn’t feel right to me. He has to be [done at United ].”

Despite his critisicm of Ronaldo, Jenas does feel Ten Hag has taken advantage of the former Real Madrid star.

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“I do feel like at times with Ten Hag, it enabled him to elevate his position at the football club when he treats Cristiano Ronaldo in a certain way,” he added. “It enables him to get the dressing room to fall in line. But at the same time, Ronaldo does have to behave in line with how the rest of the team does. If I was a manager, he can’t be involved in the team now.”

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