Steve McClaren has shared insights into the circumstances surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic departure from Manchester United, which he attributes to Ronaldo’s unwillingness to represent the club in press matters.

In November 2022, Ronaldo, then 41, parted ways with Manchester United by mutual agreement. This decision followed a sensational interview with Piers Morgan, where Ronaldo openly criticized the club, its owners—the Glazers, former manager Erik ten Hag, and his teammates.

During the interview, Ronaldo expressed his disapproval of ten Hag, stating, “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never going to have respect for you.”

He also remarked, “As Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the League or Champions League.”

Ronaldo emphasized the necessity of maintaining a winning mindset, saying, “You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try. You have to try.”

Steve McClaren has lifted the lid on the events that led to Ronaldo’s Man United exit

The Portuguese superstar had an explosive falling out with then-boss Erik ten Hag (left)

McClaren, who was ten Hag’s assistant during his stint at Manchester United, has now provided further details on the series of events that led to the contentious split.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, McClaren revealed how he tried to implore Ronaldo to follow ten Hag’s simple tactical instructions in order to guarantee his place in the team. 

‘There was a lot of battles on that training field,’ he reflected. ‘There was a lot of “all I want you to do is this, this, this and this.” That was Erik’s coaching – Ronnie this is your job. 

‘I used to say to Ronnie, “all he [Ten Hag] wants you to do is, you’re the first press, make one run, make two runs, and maybe make a third one, if you feel like it. And then, recover back into the middle, in case we win the ball, and then we can play to you. That’s all he wants you to do.” 

‘”If you can’t do that, you won’t be playing. Or if you won’t do that, you can’t be playing. Okay, or he [Ten Hag] won’t pick you. I’m telling you, he won’t pick you.”

‘It’s not like, I think other people would, and that’s the difference, other people would. But Erik was, no, I’m doing that, and he’s [Ronaldo] got to do it, otherwise he doesn’t play.

‘It was a little bit of a fight. Not a fight, but a standoff, and who is going to win? Erik stuck to his guns. I think most managers would accommodate to that. some managers are like that. But he stuck to his guns.’

Reflecting on the club’s predicament in November last year – at which time Ruben Amorim was unable to put together a consistent run of results – Ronaldo said he was ‘sad’ to see the club struggling. 

McClaren said that Ronaldo’s refusal to lead the tactical press led to his bust up with ten Hag

‘For me, I’m sad because of the club, that’s one of the most important clubs in the world, and a club that I still have in my heart because of the obvious reasons,’ he told Piers Morgan.  

‘You have to follow with the intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future as Manchester United have [done] so many years ago. 

‘Nicky Butt, Gary [Neville], Roy Keane, [David] Beckham, they became big players but they had youth. So Manchester United right now, they don’t have a structure.

‘I hope that changes in the future, present/future, because the potential of the club, it’s amazing. It’s one of the most important clubs of the century.’

Asked by Morgan: ‘Do you still look out for United results. And does it hurt you to see how badly they do?’

‘Of course. Of course,’ Ronaldo replied.

‘Because I was there so many years. I win the Champions League there, I win the golden ball, I win like 12, 13, 14 titles there. 

‘So I repeat, Manchester United is still in my heart. I love that club. 

‘But we have all to be honest and look for ourselves and say, “Listen, they are not in a good path”. So, they need to change and it’s not only about the coach and players, in my opinion.’