Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United with immediate effect – RT Sport News

Manchester United have officially parted ways with Cristiano Ronaldo, just over a week after the first quotes from his sensational interview with British TV host Piers Morgan were first published online.

In a brief statement late Tuesday afternoon, Manchester United said Ronaldo had left the club after an agreement was reached by the two sides.

“Cristiano Ronaldo must leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effectreads a statement posted on the club’s official website.

“The club thanks him for his immense contribution during two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.

“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to achieve success on the pitch..”

Ronaldo’s departure comes after a 90-minute interview with Morgan during which the Portuguese superstar expressed several frustrations he had with Manchester United, their manager and owners.

The 37-year-old striker claimed he felt disrespected by club officials on numerous occasions throughout his second stint with United, while saying he disrespected boss Erik ten Hag, who took the hot seat at Old Trafford ahead of the start of the 2022-23 season.

He also denounced the club’s US-based owners, the Glazer family, former players such as Wayne Rooney, and said he thought the club didn’t believe him when he asked for time off for s caring for his sick daughter.

Ronaldo, who is currently in Qatar with the Portugal national team ahead of his Group H opener with Ghana on Thursday, will now become a free agent and can sign up for a new squad immediately.

Amid several transfer rumors last summer, Ronaldo made it clear that he would only consider a move to a club participating in the UEFA Champions League.

Ronaldo’s departure, while seemingly inevitable following his many inflammatory statements in Morgan’s interview, represents the collapse of a relationship that began in 2003, when the former United boss signed the then-teenage Ronaldo from the Sporting Lisbon.

He left the club with the all-time record for most goals scored for Manchester United in a Premier League season (31), which he achieved in the 2007–08 campaign.

He scored 118 goals in 292 appearances during his first spell with the club and 27 in 54 during his second.