Piers Morgan has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo approached him about doing a controversial interview focusing on troubles at Manchester United this season and his conflicting relationship with Erik ten Hag.
The full two-part sit-down interview will be showcased on Wednesday evening, with Ronaldo expected to tell-all on United and their woes since his return to Old Trafford last season.
Morgan himself admits he maintains a good friendship with the Portuguese star and insisted that he felt compelled to do the interview after being contacted by Ronaldo.
Piers Morgan (right) has revealed how his shock interview with Cristiano Ronaldo came about
Wantaway Man United star Ronaldo has fronted his unhappiness with a rare media interview
‘Cristiano asked me to do it. Simple as that. I didn’t ask him, he asked me. He’s been thinking about this for a while, it’s no secret he has build up deep frustration about what has been happening at United,’ Morgan told talkSPORT.
Ronaldo (left) has revealed he ‘doesn’t respect’ United boss Ten Hag (right)
‘He feels he has to speak out, he knows it will be incendiary, will rattle some changes, but he also feels he should be doing this. He knows people will criticise him but he also knows what he is saying is true.
‘Sometimes the truth hurts. He’s been thinking about this for a while and I got a call. The World Cup is about to start, it gives him a month away from United and it gives time for what he has said to settle in. He can come back and resolve things.
‘He loves Manchester United and the fans but what he has come,’ said Morgan.
Ronaldo completed his fairytale return to Old Trafford at the start of the 21/22 season having been convinced to re-join Man United by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 12 years after he left to join Real Madrid for a then transfer record of £80million.
His second-stint at the Premier League giants however hasn’t gone to plan, with Ronaldo’s willingness to front his unhappiness in the media the latest controversial move in a season full of dramatics.
Ronaldo wanted the interview published as he spends time away from United at the World Cup
The 37-year-old (right) admitted to being ‘betrayed’ by club hierarchy at Manchester United
The 37-year-old first cited personal reasons as he was left out of United’s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia. He returned for their final warm-up game against Rayo Vallecano but left the stadium early after being subbed off.
Fast forward to United’s 2-0 victory over Spurs where Ronaldo refuses Ten Hag’s orders to make his way off the bench and instead heading off down the Old Trafford tunnel while play carried on.
Now, Ronaldo appears to have brought his disgruntled feelings to an ominous crescendo by revealing he ‘doesn’t respect’ Ten Hag and feels ‘betrayed’ by senior figures at the club.
Ronaldo (left) previously conducted an interview with Morgan (right) while at Juventus
Ronaldo’s latest landmark interview caps off a series of off-field controversies this season
Ronaldo’s full two-part interview with Morgan will air in full on Wednesday and Thursday
His interview with Morgan is another attempt to unhinge Ten Hag’s rule over United’s players with the Dutchman showing he won’t tolerate bad behaviour lightly as demonstrated when he previously banished Ronaldo to train on his own.
Ronaldo will join up with his Portugal teammates as he prepares for the fifth and what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance.
The timing of the interview allows him to avoid being swept up in the aftermath of its fallout as Ronaldo runs to hide away from Ten Hag and United’s furious staff in Qatar.
International teammates Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes may bring some of their furore into the Portugal camp with them however with some of United’s stars reportedly unhappy about Ronaldo’s latest unnecessary outburst.
Ronaldo will be unable to escape the wrath of United and Portugal teammates Bruno Fernandes (left) and Diogo Dalot (right) at the World Cup
Snippets from the unreleased television interview also show Ronaldo used the opportunity to fire back at former United teammates that have criticised his off-field antics this year.
His scathing response to Man United and England record goalscorer Wayne Rooney saw Ronaldo slam his ex-teammate – that he lifted the Champions League, Premier League, and League Cup alongside – for being jealous of his career.
‘I don’t know why he [Rooney] criticises me so badly… probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level,’ Ronaldo said in an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan, in an interview with Talk TV.
‘I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true…’
Ronaldo (right) has also lashed out at former Man United teammate Wayne Rooney (middle)
Ronaldo previously revealed he would reveal the ‘truth’ about his return to Old Trafford after missing out on a much-desired summer transfer away from Manchester.
Posting on Instagram in August Ronaldo tempted an interview was in the works as he said:
‘They know the truth when they interview in a couple weeks. The media is telling lies.
‘I have a notebook and in the last few months of the 100 news I made, only 5 were right. Imagine how it is. Stick with that tip.’
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk