Manchester United legend turned pundit Gary Neville has called on Erik Ten Hag to end the contract of Cristiano Ronaldo this week. This follows the situation of the Portuguese star in Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United team.
Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines after he stormed off the pitch down the tunnel in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The seven times Ballon d’Or winner was angry and reportedly left the stadium before the match against Tottenham ended.
When reports claimed that Ronaldo stormed off the pitch because he was not sub-on early in the game, Erik Ten Hag confirmed that the embattled forward refused to come on in the game when he was about to be brought on.
Erik Ten Hag expressed his fury at Ronaldo’s reaction, saying he will “deal with” the striker the next day.
At Carrington, after arriving for training with the first team, Cristiano Ronaldo was banned from the first-team training and slamed £750,000 fine.
The decision to ban the former Real Madrid and Juventus star from the team divided the rank and file at Old Trafford.
Former Real Madrid and Brazil international Casemiro is said to have voiced out his displeasure over the development.
Former players of the Red Devils were equally divided as they took sides on whether the punishment was necessary or not.
Rio Ferdinand was among those who tend to take sides with his former teammate.
Ferdinand asked why Erik Ten Hag should keep holding on the striker when he knew he is not going to use him for games this season.
Others condemned Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction but still maintained that Erik ten Hag unnerve the Portuguese star consigning him to the bench in most of the matches.
Erik Ten Hag collided with some members of the Manchester United hierarchy with his decision to punish Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, he maintained that he is in charge of the culture at Old Trafford, insisting that there must be consequences for Ronaldo’s reaction.
Erik Ten Hag said he had warned all players, including the highly-rated star, after he left the squad in a friendly against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford in a previous and similar incident.
Cristiano Ronaldo called for Old Trafford exit after Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.
He did not join the Red Devils in their preseason tour before the kick-off of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
On return to Carrington, Erik Ten Hag voiced his concern over his fitness and did not start the player in Manchester United’s opener against Brighton.
It was evident that the all-time Real Madrid top scorer will be set for an uneasy ride with the new man in charge at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo has struggled under Erik Ten Hag, starting only two Premier League matches, and scoring only two goals for the Red Devils in all competitions after 14 games.
There has been reports of training ground collisions with the 37-year-old and Erik Ten Hag.
Hence, Manchester United legend and pundit had called on Erik Ten Hag to end Ronaldo’s contract as a remedy to the recurrent face-off and collisions.
Neville, who sounded so critical of Ronaldo’s angry Old Trafford exit said;
“End it this week or create a truce to get to the World Cup and then end it. Because this has to end.”
Neville added that Cristiano Ronaldo’s action during the Tottenham game was unacceptable.
“For me, Erik ten Hag had no other option”, the pundit noted. “That’s the second time Ronaldo has left Old Trafford before his team-mates have got into the changing room. That is unacceptable.”
Ronaldo is currently training with Manchester United U21 and has been fined for the Old Trafford bust-up.
His contract with the Red Devils will expire at the end of the season. He may have to explore options in the January transfer window to leave Old Trafford to save his career.
