Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of failing to meet the club’s fitness and training expectations, saying the forward let the team down during their time together at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag made the allegations in an interview with The Athletic on Tuesday, recalling the breakdown of his relationship with the Portuguese star before his departure from United in November 2022.
The Dutchman said he had travelled to Portugal to discuss his plans with Ronaldo before taking charge of the club, adding that he had expected the forward to play a key role in his project.
Despite describing Ronaldo as one of the greatest players in football history, Ten Hag said he had to make decisions based on the team’s needs rather than the reputation of individual players.
He alleged that Ronaldo struggled to meet the club’s fitness requirements and sometimes withdrew from training sessions.
Ten Hag also recalled United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022, after which players were ordered to run laps as punishment. According to the former manager, Ronaldo completed two of the three laps.
He said he challenged the forward over his positioning, arguing that Ronaldo needed to work harder to get into scoring positions.
Ten Hag further claimed that Ronaldo encouraged teammates to conserve energy during training, a mindset he considered incompatible with the fitness levels required at the club.
The former manager said elite players deserved special consideration but also had to contribute to the collective effort.
“Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team,” he said.
The relationship between the pair deteriorated during the 2022/23 season. Ronaldo left Manchester United in November 2022 after a controversial interview in which he criticised the club and its management.
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