Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan is being broadcast and the Manchester United superstar is revealing all his grievances with the club.Ronaldo, 37, has now flown to Qatar to play in the World Cup, but part one of the interview is now out for the world to see.
As revealed on SunSport, Ronaldo has already taken shots at Erik ten Hag, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and the United-owning Glazer family for the state of the club.
And now, the Portuguese icon has opened up on how close his move was to Manchester City before re-joining United, alongside claiming that the youngster at Old Trafford ‘don’t care’ enough.
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Get all the latest news, updates and transfer gossip coming out of Old Trafford…
Rabiot hints at Premier League move
Juventus star Adrien Rabiot confirms he is weighing up his options amid interest from Manchester United.
The midfielder was linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer.
And the Frenchman has revealed he was subject to interest from the Premier League but decided to stay in Turin.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Rabiot said: “It’s true, there were contacts in the Premier League. But in the end, it was perhaps fortunate that I stayed, perhaps the best decision.
“The Premier League remains the most followed league, but I don’t think about the future. I stay focused on the World Cup.
“The club and I are in no hurry. There is serenity and we will have time to weigh up every possibility.”
Ronaldo “happy” to break Messi shirt sales record
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he was delighted to beat Lionel Messi’s tally of Paris Saint-Germain shirt sales when he returned to Manchester United.
The first segment of the forward’s extraordinary TalkTV interview with The Sun’s Piers Morgan aired this evening.
During the programme, Piers brought up Ronaldo’s remarkable popularity when it comes to shirt sales.
He said: “Two things happened within 24 hours of you re-signing for United.
“One – you broke the all-time record for shirt sales in 24 hours… you actually beat a guy called Messi, you must have been happy about that?”
Ronaldo laughed and replied: “Of course I am happy [laughs]. As you know, I do not follow the records, the records follow me. Another one in my book.”
Ronaldo names three Man Utd players giving 100 per cent
Cristiano Ronaldo has named three players that he believes are giving 100 per cent at Manchester United.
He said: “In Manchester United I can mention Dalot, he’s young, but very professional but I don’t doubt that he’s going to have longevity in football because he’s young, he’s smart, intelligent and he’s very professional.
“Probably [Lisandro] Martinez, Casemiro is in his 30s, but I will say Dalot.”
Garnacho to still make Argentina squad?
Manchester United fans have all said the same thing as Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni hinted additional changes may be made to his squad.
Alejandro Garnacho has been hailed as the Red Devils’ saviour in recent weeks.
The 18-year-old scored a stoppage-time winner in the 2-1 victory over Fulham last weekend.
And now fans of the Old Trafford club think that he should get a look in on the world stage in Qatar.
Scaloni revealed: “There’s a possibility that our 26-man list for the World Cup could change. Let’s see.
“There are players who are not 100% well. We want to be cautious. We want to see their evolution.”
Portugal boss Santos denies Ronaldo distraction
Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview has not caused a distraction to Portugal’s World Cup preparations, insists boss Fernando Santos.
The star, 37, has caused shockwaves at Old Trafford after a number of bombshells.
But when asked whether the ex-Real Madrid forward’s comments have had any impact on his team ahead of the World Cup, Santos was adamant they had nothing to do with the national team.
He said: “The player decided to give an interview as many others have. It’s a personal interview, very personal actually, and we have to respect that.
“Isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo a free man?… It was his decision and we have to understand and respect it.
“The only thing we talk about is the preparation for Qatar. It [the interview] does not affect us at all.”
Ronaldo hits out at Rooney and Neville
“I care about the people who like me. I don’t waste time on the people who don’t like me, they are not interested in my life. I like to be surrounded by the people who love me, I don’t waste time on people who criticise me.
“I don’t understand, you should ask him [Rooney]. It was only one year ago, six months ago he had his kids here and he invited Cristiano to play football. “I really don’t understand people like that. Or if they want to be in a cover of the paper of the news, or they want new jobs or whatever.
“Probably because he finished his career in his thirties and I’m still playing at a high level, I’m not going to say I’m looking better but it’s true.”
On Neville, then adds: “People can have their own opinions but they don’t really know what’s going on in the training ground or in my life, they shouldn’t just listen to one point of view but mine as well.
“They are not my friends, they are colleagues, we play together, we’re never going for dinner for example. As part of my journey they criticise me but I continue my trip.”
Credit: Getty
Ronaldo calls himself good looking
“I think to be good looking helps too”, he says when asked why he is the most followed person on Instagram.
Then describes himself as a “strawberry”.
Ronaldo continues with response to criticism
“I care for the people who like me. I’m not wasting time, for the people who don’t like me.
“I think it’s a waste of time, these people are not interesting in my life.”
He also describes the press as “garbage”.
Ronaldo hits back at critics
“But I still believe that the jealousy is part of that. They want to cover many things that helps to shine other things.
“But listen, Piers, I know I’m 21 years in top of the game, so I know all the takes, so for me it’s not a problem.
“It’s hard when you are a little bit down to listen to this criticism.”
Ronaldo on criticism in recent months
“I’m used to live like that because, you know, I was 37, I know and I learned many things.
“When you are at the down of the wave, when you are at the top of the wave, you don’t realise and you don’t see things that you don’t see before… Which is, I appreciate to have bad moments, to see which people are on your side, who will criticise you more.
“Because they’re looking for that. They don’t like to see successful people.
“The people only try to bring negativity. And I felt the last four or five months that, not only for me, but even for my family as well, for Georgina, especially around the world, the press criticise me even more…sometimes I don’t understand.”
Ronaldo discusses marriage with Georgina
“I’m not thinking now about that but I can see in the future I think I deserve, she deserves.
“But it’s something that’s not coming now in my plans but in the future is yes, I want.”
More on return to football and partner Georgina
“We help each other. But she struggled when she was young, which is, she now, she’ll look at life with a different eyes, even though she’s young, but she’s suffered.
“She was born in Argentina, she has issues with her family as well, she lived alone. She has an interesting life and histories as well… And she helped me a lot.
“She’s very mature for this age, we help each other sometimes when I’m a little bit down she pushes me up and I do it the other side.
“So we are a nice couple and we help each other so I’m really pleased that she’s on my side.”
Ronaldo on returning to the pitch
“But as I always have good support from my family. And Georgina told me ‘Go, go to play, go enjoy to do what you’d like to do.’ It’s going to help for you to forget a little bit, the situation.
“It was difficult, but at the same point that thing helps for you to, you know, to not think too much about that even though training was good.
“But as you know, the football going so fast and you know trainings, games, even the national team, the things going so fast you don’t even have time to settle and say what’s going on, you know, because the things are going so fast.
“But it was good help, Georgina helped me a lot to give me that stability, to say ‘listen’.”
Credit: Getty
Ronaldo has no plans for more children
“I’m not thinking now, to thinking more kids, I think we are done but we never know the future only God know.
“But right now we all want to have a break to enjoy these ones because they are little… we want to enjoy a little bit of these ones.
“Let’s see in the future.”
Ronaldo on football fans supporting him during tragic time
“I never, ever expect that. Never. I have the opportunity now to say, all English community, thank you a lot for that, [it] kind of helped with me.
“I received a letter from The Queen’s family as well … And, surprised me a lot… This is why I say, I respect a lot, the English community, English people, because they’ve been very kind with me.
“And in that difficult moment of my life… [the support] was spectacular.
“The way they treat me, me and my family in that difficult moment, I should say straight to the camera thank you, ‘Thank you, to the all English community that helped me in that moment’.”
Ronaldo on keeping his son’s ashes
“For sure, for sure. His ashes is with me, like my Daddy, they are here in the house…Yes is something that I want to hold for the rest of my life and not throw to the ocean or to the sea. I keep with me.
“They are next to my dad… I have a small church … Yes, chapel. And I keep my daddy and my son [there].
“I talk with them every time and they are by my side. You know they helped me to be a better man, to be a better person, to be a better father.
“I am really proud of the message they send me, especially my son.”
On relationship with partner Georgina after death of son
“In my case it was more, [it] was better in that way. I became more friendly of Gio, I was of course a friend, but I seem more lovely for her and for my kids and I start to see the life with a different perspective.
“It was the most difficult moments, the last six months, my dad died, it was this moment that I passed through the last six months.”
More from Ronaldo on death of his son
“The other ones in the beginning, on the table, the kids start to say “Mom where is the other baby bla bla bla – and you in the beginning they start to say because, you know, she had a little bit of a belly because they had two, it’s a hard process.
“And after one week I say, ‘Let’s be up front and let’s be honest with the kids, let’s say that, Angel, which is the name, they go to the Heaven’.
“It’s better to say in that way and we start to use that in that way. And the kids always understand, when we had shouts in at the table and they say ‘daddy I did this for Ángel’ and they point out for the, for the sky.
“I like it the most because, you know it’s part of their lives and I am not gonna lie to my kids to say the true, which is it was a difficult process but in the same way, I become more more father, more friendly with them; they become more close to their Daddy especially me with the Georgina as well.”
Ronaldo on tragic death of his son, Angel
He describes it as the “worst moment in my life”.
And he then goes on to add: “In the beginning, Gio are arriving home and the kids start to say where’s the other baby? Where’s the other baby?
“Of course Cristiano [his eldest son], I had a conversation with him in the day, because he’s 12 years old, he knows, understands everything, and I had a nice conversation with him.
“We cried together in his bedroom and explained and it’s kind of – he doesn’t understand, he does understand, but in same way he was a little bit confused.”
Ronaldo on advice to young players
“I’m not the kind of guy who likes to give advice as I prefer to be an example.
“Because I’m an example. I’m there every morning and do the same stuff. I’m probably the first one to arrive and the last one to go out.
“I think the details speak for itself… This is why I say, I like to lead by example.”
Ronaldo on current young players
“All leagues in the world, the youngest now, they are not the same as my generation. But we cannot blame them because, it’s part of the life, you know.
“The new generation and the new technologies that avoid, they distract them for another thing so… But they are not the same that, they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side.
“So, it don’t surprise me. But in the same way it’s a little bit shame because if they have the best examples in front of your eyes, and if they don’t at least copy what you did.
“For me, it’s kind of weird, because I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I’m always looked to see the best players when Van Nistelrooy, Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Giggs – this is why I have the success that I have and longevity.
“Because I take care of my body, my mentality, my head, because I see these guys and I learn from them.”
Ronaldo on Solskjaer’s sacking
“I love Solskjaer. I think he was a top person, because what I keep inside my heart, it’s the heart of the persons. And Ole for me, is a top person.
“It’s hard. It’s hard to assume [the role] after Sir Alex Ferguson, but I think he did a good job for sure. You need much more time.
“But I’m never doubt that you’re going to be a good coach in the future. But it was a good experience.
“I was, I was so pleased to work with him even for a short period.”
Ronaldo on whether Rangnick knew what he was doing…
“No, they don’t. They knew with the club, very well. But they don’t know the main dimension of the club inside, the history of the club.
“Which is, for me, surprised me even more. Which is when you sack Ole Solskjaer, you should bring a top manager, not a Sports Director.”
Ronaldo on criticism from Rangnick and the press
“To be honest, Piers, it’s something that I don’t understand. It’s the new coaches that are coming around, they think they find the last Coca Cola in the desert, which is I don’t understand the football that invents many, many years.
“But I respect any coach, every different approach, different opinions, different mentality, but kind of some points that you’re, you’re not agree. So I’m always like that in my life.
“I’ve always been, besides the best coaches in the world: Zidane and Ancelloti, Mourinho, Fernando Santos, Allegri… So I have kind of, some experience because I learn from them.
“And when you see some coaches that are coming, that they want the revolution [in] the football, I don’t agree, I have my opinion.
“They agree or they don’t, they disagree, but it’s part of the business because at the end of the day, I’m in a club to win, and with my experience, I want to help. Like always, and some coaches that don’t accept and, you know, it’s part of the job.”
Ronaldo on former boss Rangnick
“Of course, I respect, we have to call because he assumed the job regardless – all the coaches that I had in my career, I call them boss because if they assume the job we have to call in that way.
“But in the end the deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss because I saw some points that I never agreed.”
Credit: EPA
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