Erik ten Hag has once again revisited Cristiano Ronaldo’s difficult spell at Manchester United following the forward’s return to the club from Juventus in the summer of 2021. The Dutchman has offered a blunt assessment of the Portuguese star’s decline, recalling the period that eventually ended with Ronaldo leaving Old Trafford.
Ronaldo had spent three seasons at Juventus after joining from Real Madrid in 2018. The Bianconeri invested heavily in bringing him to Turin, hoping his arrival would help them win the Champions League, a trophy they had been pursuing for years.
Although Ronaldo never managed to deliver that European success, his individual contribution was considerable. He scored more than 100 goals during his time in black and white, giving Juventus plenty of attacking quality despite their failure to achieve their biggest ambition.
By 2021, Juventus were ready to move on, and Manchester United agreed to bring their former player back to the Premier League. However, his second spell at Old Trafford did not unfold as expected, with disagreements eventually leading to his departure.
Ten Hag revisits Ronaldo’s Manchester United struggles
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Ten Hag was one of the managers Ronaldo worked under during his time at United. Their relationship became increasingly strained, with the Dutchman expecting the forward to meet the demands of his playing system and contribute in the way he wanted.
Ronaldo eventually criticised the club and the manager publicly, bringing his second spell at Old Trafford to an end. He subsequently moved to Saudi Arabia, where he continues to play for Al Nassr.
The disagreement between the pair remains a talking point, particularly because Ronaldo had returned to Manchester United with considerable expectations. His departure also marked the end of a difficult period for both the player and the club.
Former manager delivers blunt assessment of Ronaldo
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Ten Hag has now made a striking claim about when Ronaldo’s decline began, suggesting Real Madrid had recognised the right moment to sell him before his move to Juventus.
Speaking via [Calciomercato](https://www.calciomercato.com/liste/erik-ten-hag-attacca-cristiano-ronaldo-quando-il-real-madrid-lo-ha-venduto-alla-juventus-era-praticamente-finito/blt9759de45f67b56b1#cs89edad13d9818617), the former Manchester United manager explained his view of the transfer and praised Real Madrid’s ability to make difficult decisions about experienced players.
“Since Real Madrid sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus, he had been practically finished. In fact, Real Madrid’s greatest strength is that they always know the perfect time to part ways with a player. And that was the case here too.”
The comments offer a clear indication of how Ten Hag views the final stages of Ronaldo’s European career, although the forward continued to score goals after leaving Madrid and remains active with Al Nassr.