Cristiano Ronaldo is said to be unhappy with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag’s tactics and training methods since his arrival at Old Trafford. Ronaldo, had a difficult start to the season, scoring only one goal in nine matches – a penalty against Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova in the Europa League.
Under Ten Hag, the Portuguese superstar has lost his guaranteed starting spot this season after submitting a transfer request during the summer transfer window in a failed effort to join a Champions League team.
Why has Ronaldo lost his confidence under Erik ten Hag?
He is given a rare start in United’s Europa League encounter against Cypriot side Omonia on Thursday, but he failed to impress, wasting many chances to record his 700th club goal.
It happened only days after he was an unused replacement for United in their humiliating 6-3 Premier League loss to rivals Manchester City. Ten Hag claims he declined to bring on Ronaldo “out of respect for his enormous career,” words that drew criticism after the game.
United are now sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Arsenal despite having played one fewer game. According to the Times, CR7 has lost his patience with Ten Hag after playing a little role this season.
He is “often at loggerheads” with the former Ajax boss, according to the article. Ronaldo “complains about the type and quality of training sessions, “according to sources, and feels “United would be better off playing a different approach”.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo leave Manchester United in the winter transfer window?
According to the source, “Ronaldo is known to consider Ten Hag inflexible and unduly attached” to the strategies he utilised as Ajax manager. Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a departure from Manchester United during the January transfer window.
According to the article, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is “getting ready for a new club” after returning from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this winter, which will likely be his last as a player with Portugal.
“Privately, Ten Hag would be pleased to be free of the dilemma of sharing a locker room with a player who openly criticises his techniques,” the story continued. It remains to be seen whether United would let Ronaldo go six months before the conclusion of his two-year deal.
