CRISTIANO RONALDO believes Manchester United are THREE YEARS off challenging neighbours City for the Premier League title.
The Portuguese star has caused shockwaves at Old Trafford after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
He hit out at Manchester United for “betraying” him and making him feel like a “black sheep” as well as blaming him for everything going wrong at the club.
The striker, 37, revealed he does not respect manager Erik ten Hag and blasted the club’s lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 – the last time they won the title.
And even though he looks increasingly unlikely to be there much longer, he thinks it will take at least three years before United can challenge at the top again.
During the interview, which airs on on Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm on TalkTV, said: “You have some things inside the club which don’t help Manchester reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal, for example. Which is complicated, it’s difficult.
READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS
“It’s hard in my opinion, it will be hard for Manchester to be in the top of the game. The next two, three years.”
He also slammed United’s controversial US owners the Glazer family — saying: “They don’t care about the club”.
He revealed he has never exchanged a single word with any of the family since his return to the club, despite being one of the world’s biggest soccer stars.
And he accused them of being more interested in United being a “marketing club” rather than a football club so they can pocket more cash.
Most read in Football
PLAY OUR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP FANTASY FOOTBALL GAME TO WIN A SHARE OF £50k
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner told Piers Morgan he believed the Glazers “don’t care” about the club and only see it as a cash cow.
He confirmed he had “never” spoken to the owners because they put the club in the hands of CEO Richard Arnold.
In one exchange Ronaldo said: “The owners of the club they, listen they don’t . . .”
Piers: “The Glazers?”
Ronaldo: “The Glazers, they don’t — they don’t care about, about the club. I mean, professional sport.
“As you know this, Manchester is a marketing club. They will get its money from the marketing, the sport, it’s . . . they don’t really care, in my opinion.”
Asked: “Do you ever talk to them, the Glazers?”, Ronaldo replied “Never. No. They give all the power to the president, sport director.”
Ronaldo also urged United fans to continue protesting against the Glazers’ ownership.
He said: “The fans, they’re always right. I think the fans should know the truth — should now that the players . . . we want the best for the club.
“I want the best of the club. This is why I am coming to Manchester United. This is why I love this club.”
Watch ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored: 90 Minutes with Ronaldo’, 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday on TalkTV. Find TalkTV on Sky 526, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237, Freesat 217 and Sky Glass 508, live and on demand on the TalkTV app, streaming services and at Talk.TV
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
