Gary Neville urges Man United to 'end their relationship' with Ronaldo

Gary Neville urges Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United to ‘end their relationship’ after he was axed by Erik ten Hag for storming out of Old Trafford against Spurs… with the Sky pundit insisting it was ‘unacceptable’ and that his former club are ‘better without him’

  • Gary Neille claimed Manchester United are ‘better without’ Cristiano Ronaldo 
  • Neville believes the time has now come for Ronaldo and Man United to part ways
  • The 37-year-old was exiled from the side after his behaviour against Tottenham
  • He refused to take to the field late on with his side 2-0 up before leaving early 

Gary Neville claimed that Manchester United need to move on from Cristiano Ronaldo after leaving the Premier League clash with Tottenham early and refusing to come off the bench. 

The forward was exiled from the team for their travels to Chelsea at the weekend, and with no clear route back into the side under Erik ten Hag the ex-right-back has urged his former side to ‘end the relationship’.

The 37-year-old had previously left a pre-season friendly before full-time against Rayo Vallecano, and had received a warning from the Dutch manager as a result, but the relationship between the pair now seems irreparably damaged.  

Gary Neville has called for Manchester United to end their relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo

‘It has been a big week for Erik ten Hag, all the scrutiny on him and his relationship with Ronaldo,’ said Neville, in attendance at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with Sky.

‘But I have to say I don’t think he was left with any other option. That’s the second time that Cristiano Ronaldo has left Old Trafford in his car before his team-mates have got into the changing room, and I have to say, that – from a point of view from a football dressing room – is something that is unacceptable.

‘When you look at whether Cristiano Ronaldo should be selected, which is obviously his main problem at this moment in time, that he’s not playing as great a player as he’s been, Man United are better without him and Erik ten Hag knows that.

The 37-year-old refused to come off the bench against Tottenham late in the game in midweek

‘So I think the only thing that the club and Cristiano can do is get together in this next week or so and end the relationship. 

‘I think Cristiano’s too good a player and too big a character, and the club have to move on.’

Ronaldo has not been shy in making clear his feelings on his lack of game time under Ten Hag this season. 

The forward then left the game early – the second time he has done so under Erik ten Hag

The Portuguese legend had attempted to move away from the club over summer before a ball had even been kicked in the league, but no offer was forthcoming. 

Ten Hag has axed Ronaldo from the squad

But not all pundits have seen it the same way as Neville, with his long-time former team-mate Roy Keane interpreting the display of petulance and defiance as the player’s way of showing he cares about United. 

‘I’d be I’d be more worried if Ronaldo sit on the bench every week laughing his head off and not caring and I think the guy cares,’ Keane said of the Portuguese star. 

‘I’ve said it before and this game. This game is full of loafers, and he’s certainly not one of them.

‘I think he cares about the club. People say and he’s not the player he was ten years ago.  

‘Of course he’s not. He was leading goalscorer last year for Man United. 

‘He went to Man United last year to a bad Man United team. Really bad team. He’s still leading goal scorer.’




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