Cristiano Ronaldo has told Piers Morgan that Erik ten Hag "wasn't worth talking about" after the former Manchester United manager renewed his criticism of the Portugal forward.
Ten Hag, who was in charge at Old Trafford when Ronaldo left the club following a public fallout, has claimed the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's productive years were long gone and that he had not been at his peak since 2018. Ronaldo returned to Manchester in 2021.
Ten Hag's latest criticism
Speaking to ESPN, Ten Hag said: "Let there be no misunderstanding on my part, he is of course a great player. He belongs among the greats of the world. But the reality is also that he hasn't been able to deliver for the last seven or eight years. From Juventus onwards, it was simply over."
He added: "That is also Real Madrid's great gift. They see when a player is declining in level. Then they part ways at a moment when, to the outside world, they are still at their peak, but actually can no longer deliver."
Ronaldo's response
Morgan put those comments to Ronaldo, with the pair known to have a friendship. The former newspaper editor said on Football Uncensored: "I did ask Cristiano about it and he said he didn't think that Ten Hag was worth talking about."
The Al Nassr star had fallen down the pecking order under Ten Hag and took issue with that, leading to an interview with Morgan in which he criticised the club. That resulted in his contract being terminated.
Morgan backs Ronaldo's record
Morgan has maintained that United would be in a far better position if they had someone like Ronaldo producing the numbers he did in his full season back at the club. He added: "He scored 18 Premier League goals and six Champions League goals (in his last full season at Old Trafford). How much would United love a striker with that record right now? I think Ronaldo could have given United another two, three years and scored a lot of goals for them."
Morgan continued: "It would have been an excellent, excellent comeback if he'd had the right manager with him. But he didn't. He had a guy that disrespected him, treated him like s*** – a bit like the Portuguese manager is trying to do now. These guys like to make a name for themselves out of Ronaldo."
