Striker attacks his club
Sportsbooks have shortened the odds for Cristiano Ronaldo to make a trip back to his native Portugal after Piers Morgan teased an “explosive” interview with the Manchester United star.
might prove the final straw for United
Love him or loathe him, the waning 37-year-old star is never far from the headlines, whether for superb goals or introverted tantrums. This time, however, might prove the final straw for United. Morgan shared excerpts from the stormy interview on Monday via Twitter:
While Ronaldo’s comments about feeling “betrayed” and forced out by the English Premier League (EPL) club are inflammatory enough, what he said about manager Erik ten Hag seems set to hasten the veteran’s departure. “I don’t have respect for [ten Hag] because he doesn’t show respect for me,” Morgan cited Ronaldo as saying in The Sun. “If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
Flutter-owned Paddy Power now has Ronaldo’s former club Sporting Lisbon as -300 favorites to sign the Portugal legend before February 3, 2023.
Brutal honesty
While TalkTV will air Morgan’s 90-minute interview over two parts on Wednesday and Thursday, Morgan published a condensed version in The Sun filled with multiple explosive accusations and snubs.
Of former Man U manager Ralf Rangnick, Ronaldo asked: “If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I’d never even heard of him.” He also laid into ex-team-mate Wayne Rooney who has criticized him in the past. Ronaldo alleged the reason for Rooney’s comments were: “Probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing”.
Ronaldo’s comments have drawn fire from leading UK soccer pundits, with fans flooding #bbcfootball to share their thoughts. Editor of Man Utd fanzine United We Stand, Andy Mitten, told BBC Radio 5 Live:
I don’t think United fans would be hugely concerned if he didn’t play for [the] club again.”
Meanwhile, former Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton called it “a very sad end.” BBC Sport pundit Sutton took to Twitter to say the striker can’t accept he “simply isn’t the player he once was:”
If not portugal
Paddy Power’s odds have Chelsea only marginally behind Sporting to get Ronaldo next at -400. A move over the pond is next favorite with any MLS franchise available at odds of -600.
PSG and Napoli are -1200 to sign the Portuguese star; Roma and Manchester City -1600; Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, and Newcastle -2500; and Real Madrid -5000.
United may sell Ronaldo in the January transfer window, or simply cancel his contract, making him a free agent to go where he likes.