Piers Morgan backs Cristiano Ronaldo after leaving Old Trafford early

Piers Morgan has backed Cristiano Ronaldo for storming down the tunnel before full time during Manchester United’s win against Tottenham after it was pointed out on social media that the Portuguese star’s actions were similar to his own when he walked off Good Morning Britain last year.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute at Old Trafford, and as the game moved into stoppage time he left the bench and walked up the tunnel to the dressing room.

Morgan also famously walked off Good Morning Britain in March 2021, and he insisted that both he and Ronaldo were in the right after being ‘disrespected’.

Morgan think he and Ronaldo were right to walk away from their respective situations

‘If you get disrespected in the workplace, why put up with it?’ he replied to an image of himself and Ronaldo storming out.

Morgan’s walk-out came after he clashed with weatherman Alex Beresford over claims Meghan Markle had made during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Morgan dismissed Markle’s claims that she had experienced suicidal thoughts, and racism at the hands of the Royal Family, saying he ‘didn’t believe a word’.

He was then challenged on his comments by Beresford, who said: ‘I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this programme. But yet you continue to trash her…’

At this point Morgan got up and left, saying: OK, I’m done with this. See you later. Sorry, I can’t do this.’ 

Cristiano Ronaldo left the bench early to go down the tunnel during Wednesday’s match

He did this after Erik ten Hag decided not to bring him on against Tottenham at Old Trafford

Morgan left the show for good shortly afterwards, but stood by his actions and claimed his departure was due to ‘cancel culture that is permeating our country.’

Morgan also tweeted earlier on Thursday morning that ten Hag’s treatment of Ronaldo has been ‘pathetic’ and ‘staggeringly disrespectful’. 

‘The way Ten Hag seems to delight in humiliating @Cristiano is pathetic,’ Morgan tweeted. 

‘Sticking the world’s greatest ever footballer on the bench, making him repeatedly warm up, then not even use him as a sub, is just staggeringly disrespectful to United’s top scorer last season.’

Piers Morgan thinks ten Hag’s treatment of Ronaldo has been ‘pathetic’ this season

Ronaldo scored 24 goals last term – Fernandes was the next highest in the United squad with 10.

However, he has fallen out of favour since ten Hag arrived in the summer, and has started just twice in the league this season.

The 37-year-old netted the 700th club goal of his career earlier this month against Everton, but that was a rare bright moment in a disappointing campaign for the Portuguese star so far.

United beat Tottenham thanks to goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes, but Ronaldo’s early departure has become the main talking point from the game

Ten Hag has opted to put his trust in younger players in recent weeks, playing the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and summer signing Antony ahead of Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has tended to come off the bench in the second half of matches, but ten Hag’s decision to completely overlook him on Wednesday was not a one-off as he did the same in the Manchester derby at the start of the month.

On that occasion, the Dutchman explained himself by saying he didn’t want to bring Ronaldo on during United’s humbling 6-3 defeat against their local rivals ‘out of respect for his big career’.

Ronaldo was also an unused substitute against Manchester City earlier this month

Morgan hit out at ten Hag’s treatment of Ronaldo in the aftermath of that game as well.

‘Imagine benching @Cristiano for Utd’s biggest game of the season, then using 5 other subs as they’re hammered into oblivion, & then claiming you did it ‘out of respect’ for him?’ he posted on Twitter.

‘Ten Hag is an arrogant deluded twerp & the way he’s treating Ronaldo is disgraceful.’

Ten Hag refused to react to Ronaldo’s behaviour after his side’s win against Tottenham, but has vowed to deal with the matter on Thursday.