by Manchester United have reached an agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo to mutually terminate his contract.
the athlete reported last week that United had started court proceedings against Ronaldo for breach of contract following his interview with Piers Morgan.
This work has developed rapidly and the exit of the 37-year-old is complete.
A statement from United read: “Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United by mutual agreement with immediate effect.
“The club thank him for his immense contribution in two games at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
Ronaldo gave a highly critical interview ahead of the World Cup – where the attacker will play for Portugal – in which he accused his employers of treason and attacked head coach Erik ten Hag and the club’s hierarchy.
The Old Trafford side released a statement on Thursday which read: “Manchester United took appropriate steps this morning in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview.
“We will have no further comment until this process is complete.”
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All top players sign an employment contract in the Premier League with their teams.
Under this agreement, they are required to “follow and act in accordance with any lawful direction of any authorized club official” and may not “write or say anything which might bring the club… into disrepute… or cause harm to the club.” “.
Ronaldo said in an interview with Morgan published in The Sun newspaper that he feels “betrayed” by the club.
The striker added he feels pushed by United “not only by the manager (Erik ten Hag) but also by two or three other people at the club”.
He said: “I feel betrayed.
“I feel like some people don’t want me here. Not only this year, but also last year.”
Ronaldo also addressed his relationship with Ten Hag, adding: “I have no respect for him because he shows no respect for me.
“If you don’t respect me, I will never respect you.”
He also spoke about Ralf Rangnick’s time at the club, who was appointed caretaker manager following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last season.
The German enjoyed great success as director of football but hadn’t managed a team for over two years before taking over from United in November last year. Ronaldo commented: “If you’re not even a manager, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I had never heard of him.”
Ronaldo told United he wanted to leave last summer if they received a suitable offer, but no satisfactory proposals came through.
He was previously criticized by his manager in August for leaving early during a friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Ronaldo was substituted at half-time during the warm-up game and then filmed outside the stadium before the end.
Last month he refused to come on in the closing stages of United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur.
He was then dropped from their squad to face Chelsea the following weekend and trained alone before returning to the line-up to defeat Sheriff 3-0 in the Europa League.
The Portugal international also missed his side’s last Premier League game before the World Cup break, a 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, through illness.
Ronaldo has struggled for form in front of goal this season. The Portugal international has scored one goal in ten Premier League games this season.
However, he has played a more prominent role in the Europa League campaign. Ronaldo has started in all six of United’s games in the competition, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
In the Premier League, Ronaldo has been cast largely as a fringe figure, having made just four starts.
United went into the World Cup break in fifth place in the Premier League.
(Photo: Getty Images)
