Erik ten Hag accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of unprofessionalism during Manchester United tenure

Erik ten Hag has criticised Cristiano Ronaldo's conduct during their time together at Manchester United, according to reporting by Independent Football and CaughtOffside. Ten Hag, now technical director at FC Twente, claimed the forward failed to meet the physical demands required at the club and pulled out of training sessions during the 2022-23 season.

Ten Hag took charge at Old Trafford in April 2022, with Ronaldo already in his second spell at the club. The manager stated that following United's 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022, Ronaldo completed only two of the three laps he demanded from his players. Ten Hag told The Athletic he confronted Ronaldo over his fitness levels, suggesting the forward lacked the conditioning needed to contribute effectively in matches.

The relationship between manager and player deteriorated significantly during the 2022-23 campaign. Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute and left the pitch during a match against Tottenham, prompting Ten Hag to exclude him from the first-team squad for one fixture. Ronaldo played no further part for United before the World Cup break in November 2022 and never featured for the club again.

Ten Hag's latest comments expand on the tensions that defined their working relationship, with the manager emphasising that individual talent must align with team demands. According to CaughtOffside's reporting, Ten Hag stressed that top players must work for the team rather than expecting the team to accommodate them. Ronaldo eventually departed United following a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.