Manchester United are exploring the posibility of terminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract, per multiple reports.
The developments comes just days after the 37-year-old Portugal international conducted a highly-critical interview with Piers Morgan where he accused his employers of betrayal and took swipes at head coach Erik ten Hag as well as the club’s hierarchy. The club is also considering taking legal action against Ronaldo for breach of contract, which could result in the Portugal international’s deal at the club being cancelled.
The Old Trafford club released a statement on Friday, which read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview. We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
All top-flight players sign a Premier League employment contract with their clubs. Under that agreement, they are obliged to “comply with and act in accordance with all lawful instructions of any authorised official of the club” and are not allowed to “write or say anything which is likely to bring the club… into disrepute… or cause damage to the club”.
Ronaldo told United he wanted to leave this summer, should the club receive a suitable bid, but no satisfactory firm offers were made for the forward.
He previously drew criticism from his manager back in August when he left early during a friendly against Rayo Vallecano. He was substituted at half-time during the warm-up fixture and was then filmed outside the ground before the end of the match.
Last month, he refused to come on as a substitute during the closing stages of his side’s win against Tottenham Hotspur. He was then left out of the squad for United’s fixture against Chelsea the following weekend and trained by himself for a week before returning to the line-up for their 3-0 Europa League win against Sheriff.
The Portugal international also missed his side’s final Premier League match before the World Cup break, a 2-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday, due to illness.
Ronaldo has struggled for form in front of goal this season. The Portugal international has only scored one goal in 10 Premier League appearances this season.
He has, however, played a more prominent role in the Old Trafford club’s Europa League campaign. Ronaldo has started all six of United’s matches in the competition, scoring two goals and claiming two assists. In the Premier League, Ronaldo has largely been cast as a peripheral figure with just four starts.
United head into the World Cup break in fifth place in the Premier League table.
Source: theathletic.com
