Ronaldo let Manchester United down recalls Ten Hag

Wednesday, 21 October 2026 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Erik ten Hag (left) with Christino Ronaldo

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo “let the team and let me down” during the Dutchman’s spell at Old Trafford.

Portugal forward Ronaldo was in his second spell at United when Ten Hag took charge in the summer of 2022 but left in controversial circumstances a few months later.

“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag told The Athletic, external.

“I flew out to Portugal to speak with him about what I was aiming for before I came to United.

“Obviously, he’s one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in.”

Ten Hag had dropped Ronaldo for a Premier League game at Chelsea in October 2022 after he had refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham three days earlier.

Ronaldo gave an interview in the November in which he said he felt “betrayed” by United, did not respect Ten Hag and was being forced out of the club prior to his departure being “mutually agreed”.

Ronaldo was 36 when he returned to Manchester United from Juventus in 2021, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager.

Under Ten Hag, he scored just three goals in 16 outings before his exit during the 2022-23 campaign. (BBC)