Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has again criticised Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the forward's time at the top of the game was over when he left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021 for a second spell with Manchester United, before Ten Hag took charge as manager in the summer of 2022. Their relationship did not develop, and in November 2022 Ronaldo's contract was terminated after he criticised the boss and the club as a whole. The Portuguese star moved to Saudi Arabia, while Ten Hag remained in charge of the Red Devils until his dismissal in October 2024.
Fresh criticism in ESPN interview
Speaking to ESPN, Ten Hag said: '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 couldn't bring himself to torture himself anymore. To give it his all every day. To get fit. If you aren't fit in the Premier League, you stand no chance. He can still finish chances. You can still see that. But if you can't get into the penalty area anymore…'
He added: 'Ultimately, the choice was up to him. Whether he wants to make that investment. If he doesn't want to, I have to make other choices in the interest of the club. We have seen that.'
Earlier comments to The Athletic
Ten Hag had previously spoken to The Athletic last month about their time together, saying: 'Many times I say, "Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you can't bring yourself in the box, you can't score".'
'He was not capable to do this. It's the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he's exhausted. But he couldn't. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn't prepare himself.'
'Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team.'
'He was telling the players, "save your legs at the training". I understand it when you are top fit; you have sessions, you can save the legs. But first you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels.'
The Dutchman had said little in the two years since his departure, but has now levelled the same criticisms at the 41-year-old, going even further in his latest remarks.
