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Cristiano Ronaldo had a contract with Manchester United earning almost $600,000 a week.
Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United immediately.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect“said the English Premier League team.
“The club thanks him for his immense contribution during two stages in Old Traffordin which he scored 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family the best for the future.”
The decision comes following a controversial interview in which the 37-year-old player criticized the clubsaid he felt “betrayed” and that he “had no respect” for coach Erik ten Hag.
“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to achieve success on the pitch.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in Qatar to participate in the World Cup with Portugal, which will debut once morest Ghana on Thursday in Group H.
“Following discussions with Manchester United, we have agreed to terminate our contract early,” the striker said in a statement.
“I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never change. However, I feel the time is right to look for a new challenge.”
Manchester United rank fifth in the Premier League in Dutchman Ten Hag’s first season as manager.
The season is in recess until January for the World Cup.
loss of importance
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, nicknamed CR7, left Juventus to rejoin the Old Trafford club in August 2021, 11 years following his first spell, following which he went to Real Madrid, where he established himself as a world soccer star.
image source, Getty Images
CR7 had a second stage at United since August 2021; The first had been in its early days, from 2003 to 2009.
He had just over seven months left on his £500,000 (almost $600,000) a week contract with United and his departure leaves him free to join another club when the transfer window opens in January.
Ronaldo has not played for United due to an unspecified illness since captaining them in a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa on 6 November.
He was ruled out by Ten Hag for the Premier League match once morest Chelsea last month following refusing to come on as a substitute once morest Tottenham three days earlier.
In last week’s interview with Britain’s TalkTV channel, Ronaldo said he felt “betrayed by the club” adding that he felt he was being forced to leave the club.
“Not only the coach, but also two or three guys around the club,” he said.
He also said he had not seen “any evolution” at the club since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Following the broadcast of the interview, Manchester United responded last Friday with a statement stating that it had “initiated the appropriate steps”.
“Cristiano obviously did that interview with the mindset that he was not happy and wanted out of the club. He made that very clear,” former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand told BBC Sport.
“I think Erik ten Hag also got what he wanted in this situation. Both parties are happy and we can move on,” he concluded.
