Ten Hag cilindra Cristiano Ronaldo: “From Juventus forward, it’s over”

ANDrik ten Hag gave this Sunday an extensive interview with the programme ‘Goedemorgen Eredivisie’, issued by the Dutch television station ESP N, in which he did not resist returning to the charge against Cristiano Ronaldo, player who guided during the (short) passage by the Manchester United technical command, between August and November 2022.

“ All top teams must welcome their star player, but that star player must also make concessions for the team. That was basically the problem with Ronaldo. That there is no misunderstanding on my part, he is, of course, a fantastic player”, started by affirming the now technical director of Twente.

“ He belongs among the best players in history, but the reality is, in the last seven or eight years, he was unable to perform at that level. From the passage through Juventus to the front, it ended”, he added, before speculating that it was also for this reason that Real Madrid sought to ‘get rid’ of the Portuguese international, in 2018.

“ That is also the great merit of Real Madrid, they realize when the level of a player begins to lower, so they let us leave at a time when, for those who are outside, it still seems to be at the peak, although, in reality, it is no longer able to present a performance consistent with that level ", reflected.

“Cristiano Ronaldo could no longer take the body to the limit”

The Dutch coach also took the opportunity to raise, once again, questions about the physical condition of Al Nassr's now advanced, there is an image of what he had already done almost two weeks ago, in conversation with the American portal The Athletic: “It was a very short period, but there was a certain tension.”.

He could no longer push his body to the limit and give everything he had, every day, maintaining physical form. If you're not in good physical condition in the Premier League, you don't stand a chance. He is still able to finish, that is in sight, but if you can no longer reach the great opposing area...” he pointed.

“ You put the mirror in front of it and you present arguments that are clear as water (...). The evidence was very clear. Nowadays, in football, everything is monitored ", completed the technician who, remember, was fired from the rudder of the red devils, in October 2024, and consequently succeeded by the Portuguese also Ruben Amorim.

“ No one is bigger than a club or a country. Neither Cristiano Ronaldo, not even Messi”

In conclusion, Erik ten Hag praised Cristiano Ronaldo, recalling that “he won the Champions League five times and scored countless goals”, contributing “immense to football” ... but with a ‘asterisk’ in the middle: “We all like watching him play, including me, but at that moment, I had to make decisions that would meet the best interests of the team and the club.”.

“In the end, it was his decision, if he was willing to make that investment... If he were not, then he could not make another decision, for the sake of the club, and that is what happened (...). No one is bigger than a club or a country. Neither Cristiano Ronaldo, nor even [Lionel] Messi. In the end, the team always comes first”, concluded.