Ferdinand and Crouch disagree over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd strop

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Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch have differing views on Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent behaviour that has seen him frozen out of the Manchester United squad. With the Red Devils 2-0 up against Tottenham, the Portuguese forward refused to be brought on and left Old Trafford before the match had finished.

Erik ten Hag has revealed that Ronaldo will not play against Chelsea this weekend, with it also emerging that the former Real Madrid star has been fined a fortnight’s salary and told to train away from the first team. The treatment of the all-time great has divided many though.

Some feel that Ten Hag has had no choice but to stamp his authority on Ronaldo given his previous antics. However, others feel the Dutch boss is being disrespectful given that he called for the forward to remain in his squad this season against his will.

Ferdinand has told BT Sports that Ten Hag must shoulder some of the blame for Ronaldo’s behaviour due to his former team-mate being left in the dark about matchday decisions. He said: “Emotions can sometimes take it out of your control as your human. I’d have been in the queue to speak to him asking why he did it.

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“There’s two ways to look at it and I don’t condone it for one minute but there’s always another side to the story. I don’t think the communication has been as good as he wanted it, people say ‘you’re a player in the team’ but when you’re dealing with a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, like it or not, he’s Cristiano Ronaldo he’s one of the greatest footballers ever along with Messi.

“Sometimes they’re afforded a way of treatment a little bit different to everyone else, it was the same under Fergie, we had that communication about how the minutes are going to look and I think for the first time in his life that’s not upheld from the manager or the club. He’s in a position where he doesn’t know where he’s at.”

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Crouch took the opposite view and believes that Ronaldo must continue to take responsibility for his actions and that the 37-year-old is experienced enough to know that no one is above the manager. The former Liverpool star said: “It’s the manager’s prerogative, not the players’ prerogative. No player can sit on the side and say you can’t come on. I don’t care who you are, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players we’ve seen play the game but you’re a player.

“You have a manager and a board in place who makes decisions, who plays on the field. As a player, you can’t take the decision and walk off while the match going on. Ten Hag and the board have a decision now where it sets a precedent. I know he’s Cristiano Ronaldo but then on the flip side, it must be difficult for him – a player that every manager has turned to to win matches, to sit there and not be a part of it… he’s sat there and said he’s wrong but from his point of view, it must be difficult to watch.” It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo returns next week in the Europa League for the match against FC Sheriff.

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