Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has addressed Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure for the first time since his contract with the club expired.
The 37-year-old, who had been linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, left United by mutual consent after making controversial comments on Piers Morgan’s TalkTV.
Ten Hag was one of the targets of Ronaldo’s criticisms in that interview, but rather than responding directly, the Dutchman has expressed his desire to move on from the entire incident and look forward.
Read Also Qatar 2022 Quarter-Finals Fixtures, Date And Time
Ten Hag told MUTV about the premature departure of the Portugal international, whose contract was set to expire next summer “He’s gone, and it’s all in the past. We are now looking forward and forward to the future.”
With Ronaldo gone, the United manager will be able to focus on imposing his long-term vision at the club, as he suggested that young players could play a key role after impressing during the international break.
“When you change things in an organization and change the way of playing, that takes time,” Ten Hag said of the squad’s progress since their surprise losses to Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season. You never get time in top-level football. Opponents want to kill you, and this is what happened. We had to adapt quickly, and I think our team did fantastic. The mentality changed, and I believe our style of play changed during the season, and I believe we are growing and must continue to do so.”
Never Miss Any News, Join Our WhatsApp Group With This Link Below
