Ten Hag criticizes Ronaldo again: It was effectively over since Juventus, and Real Madrid knows when to say goodbye to its legends

Dutch manager Erik ten Hag has again criticized Cristiano Ronaldo, recalling their dispute at Manchester United in 2022. Tensions began after Ten Hag left the Portuguese player on the bench; Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute and left the pitch angrily, then was dropped from the first-team squad for one match.

Ten Hag said the problem was that the star needed to make way for the team, while acknowledging that Ronaldo is a tremendous player and one of the greatest of all time. He added that, in his view, Ronaldo had been unable to deliver the required performances since his time at Juventus.

Ten Hag praised the way Real Madrid handles its players, saying the club knows when it is time to end the relationship with a player whose level is declining, even if it may seem to others that he is still at the peak of his powers. He said he had explained the style of play and the role expected of Ronaldo, but felt the player could no longer overcome pain or train and put in the necessary effort to reach the required level of readiness.

Ten Hag noted that failing to reach full fitness leaves a player with no chance in the Premier League, the Champions League or with the Portugal national team, and that the Premier League’s rules show no mercy to anyone unable to keep up with the competition. He added that Ronaldo did not dispute what he had said about his shortcomings, because, as he put it, the evidence was clear.

Ronaldo left Manchester United after an interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022 in which he spoke about the deterioration of his relationship with the club, then joined Saudi side Al Nassr. Ten Hag had previously accused Ronaldo of being unprofessional in an interview with The Athletic in October.