‘From Juventus, it’s simply over’ – Ten Hag in new attack on Ronaldo

Erik ten Hag has doubled down on his criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo from their time together at Manchester United – and said that the forward’s career was all but “over” by the time he returned to Old Trafford.

Their relationship broke down in late 2022 after Ronaldo said that the club had “betrayed” him in a TV interview, and the Portugal international left The Red Devils to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia at the turn of that year.

In a recent interview, Ten Hag said that Ronaldo had “let the team down” during his second spell at Old Trafford, and the Dutchman has gone further, telling ESPN that Ronaldo, 41, has been unable to “deliver” since his time at Juventus, who he left in 2021 to return to United after three seasons in Turin.

“Every top team must embrace the top player, but the top player must also make way for the team. That was simply the problem with Ronaldo,” said Ten Hag.

“The players wanted to work for him, and they looked up to him, because let there be no misunderstanding about that. He is, of course, a tremendous player, one of the all-time greats.

“But that is also the reality over the last seven, eight years, he simply can no longer deliver. From Juventus onwards, it’s simply over.”

Ronaldo joined Juve in 2018 after nine glittering seasons at Real Madrid, and Ten Hag suggested Los Blancos let him go at the right time.

”That is actually the great gift of Real Madrid,” Ten Hag said. “They always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment. They recognise when a player’s level is declining. And they say goodbye at a moment when, to the outside world, they still appear to be at their peak, but they can no longer actually deliver.”

Ten Hag went on to detail why he felt Ronaldo – who was fined and given a 30-day suspension by Portugal last month for leaving the squad during a round of Nations League games – did not perform on his return to United, the club who he had won three Premier League titles with as well as the UEFA Champions League and three domestic cups earlier in his career.

“When I started at United, and I explained to him how we were going to play, what his role in that would be, and what he could expect from me and from the team,” he said. “But, ultimately, you also have to deliver yourself.

“He could no longer bring himself to push through the pain, and to give everything every single day, and to train at his maximum in order to get fit.

“If you’re not fit in the Premier League, Champions League, or with the Portuguese national team, well, then you simply have no chance.”

Ronaldo, over the course of his career, has been known for his fitness levels and athleticism.

“That is the image,” said Ten Hag. “And that is, of course, how he became so good.

“But, ultimately, he could no longer bring himself to do that. If you can’t do it, then the laws of the Premier League are merciless. Then you can no longer keep up.

“You show him what is required. And he knows it too, because he knows what is required. Because otherwise he could never have achieved this, of course.

“You hold a mirror up to him, and then you come with arguments that hold up. Then you show him the evidence. It’s very clear.”

Ronaldo is closing in on 1,000 career goals, having taken his tally to 985 with a hat-trick for Al Nassr against Al Kholood this week.

He won the Saudi Pro League with the club last season.