Despite slating the club from the top to bottom, Cristiano Ronaldo says “it’s hard” to imagine leaving Manchester United.
Ronaldo discussed many things in his interview, from United manager Erik ten Hag to criticism from Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
His future at Old Trafford was obviously the largest talking point, and the 37-year-old has pretty much burned all bridges with the club, leaving a winter transfer window as pretty much the only solution.
Multiple reports suggested that Ronaldo wanted to leave in the summer, but it was widely reported that no club was really interested.
This was barring a €350million offer from a club in Saudi Arabia, which the Portuguese striker has now confirmed.
“It’s true, yes it’s true… but what the press keeping say, the garbage, is that nobody wants me, which is completely wrong,” Ronaldo said.
“And I was happy here to be honest, I was motivated to do a great season here. But they continue to repeat that nobody wants Cristiano.
“How they don’t want a player who scored 32 goals last year, with national team as well?”
On rejecting the big-money contract offer, he added: “It’s hard, it’s hard. But in the same way, I thought that I was very happy here; that I still capable to score goals.
“I still believe that I can score many, many goals and help the team because I still believe that I’m still good and capable to help national team – even Manchester United.
“But if you don’t feel around you that the energy’s on your side, it’s difficult.
“Of course, the criticism is gonna exists all the time. ‘Ah he’s 37, he’s not the same’. But I want to see if some guy of my age can maintain the level that I show.”
Ronaldo was asked if will still be a United player come January.
He responded: “It’s difficult to tell right now, it’s because, we, my mood is right now to the World Cup.
“It’s probably my last World Cup, of course, my fifth World Cup. I don’t know what’s gonna happen after the World Cup, but as I told you before, and I will say again, the fans will be always in my heart.
“And I hope they been in my side, even if I’m back, or if I’m not back, or if I stay or whatever. Nobody’s perfect.
“Episodes in life we all have is part of the human beings, is part of me to be a human being and father as well. I always will commit mistakes.
“But I don’t know, it’s hard to tell right now what’s going to happen to World Cup because my focus is for the World Cup, for the Portugal national team.”
Ronaldo bizarrely said it will be “hard” to wave goodbye to the Red Devils, despite the fact the training ground is horrendous and the club has no ambition. His words. Not mine. Kind of.
On potentially leaving United, Ronaldo said: “It’s hard, it’s hard for me to say that I will not be back to Manchester United. But regardless, as you say, it’s… let’s see what’s going to happen.
“But as I told you before, the fans for me always will be in my side, will be always in my heart,” he said.
“I see during the days when I go to the streets, the love, the passion, that people have for me, the respect. I hope that they never forget the things that I will continue to do it. Not only in the past, but in the present too.
“Manchester will be always in my side, the fans will be always in my side; doesn’t matter what’s going to happen. And I appreciate the love that they send for me all the time.
“2Even when I’m done play. We even, when they, when they criticise me, they always will be in my heart. So thank you to all the support. I hope to see you soon. And they always will be in my heart.”
Ronaldo was happy to return to the club but has said since then had his legs cut, and his advice not listened to. Who knows? I don’t.
“When I arrived at Manchester United, I always be available to help the team to do good things, to put in the right spots, to compete with the best teams,” he said.
“But it’s hard when they cut your legs and they don’t like you to shine and they don’t listen to your advice.
“I think I have words to advise to the club because the trophies I won, individual and collective. I think I can help a lot, but when the infrastructure is not good.”
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