Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo's career, suggesting that the Portuguese forward's peak years were behind him after leaving Real Madrid in 2018. In an interview with ESPN, ten Hag reflected on Ronaldo's career and their time together at Manchester United. He described Ronaldo as one of football's greatest players, acknowledging his remarkable achievements. Ten Hag's comments have reignited discussions about Ronaldo's career trajectory.
Ten Hag pointed to Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid as a turning point in his career. He stated that Ronaldo can no longer deliver at the highest level, citing a significant decline in his performances over the last seven to eight years. According to ten Hag, Ronaldo's best years were already behind him after leaving Real Madrid. The Dutchman praised Ronaldo's achievements but insisted that his ability to consistently perform at the highest level had declined.
Erik ten Hag, now technical director at FC Twente, praised Real Madrid for their ability to recognise when established players are approaching the end of their peak years. He noted that the Spanish giants have consistently demonstrated good judgement by allowing players to leave when the time is right. Ten Hag described this as a great gift, allowing Real Madrid to maintain a high level of performance. This approach has enabled the club to bring in new talent and sustain their success.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer of 2018, after winning numerous major trophies, including four Champions League titles. During his time at Juventus, Ronaldo scored 101 goals in 134 appearances across three seasons. He subsequently returned to Manchester United in 2021, registering 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford. Ronaldo's return to Manchester United eventually ended in controversy.
The disagreement between Ronaldo and ten Hag resulted in the termination of Ronaldo's Manchester United contract, allowing him to leave the club before completing a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. Despite the difficult ending to his second Manchester United spell, Ronaldo has continued his professional career in Saudi Arabia. Ten Hag's comments have sparked discussions about Ronaldo's career trajectory and when his performances began to decline.
Ronaldo's relationship with ten Hag deteriorated during the 2022-23 season, culminating in an explosive interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan in November 2022. In the interview, Ronaldo accused ten Hag of betraying him. The incident marked a turning point in their relationship, ultimately leading to Ronaldo's departure from Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag's comments on Cristiano Ronaldo's career have sparked renewed debate about the Portuguese superstar's performances. Key points from ten Hag's interview include: Ronaldo's peak years ended after leaving Real Madrid in 2018; his ability to deliver at the highest level has declined significantly; and Real Madrid's approach to allowing players to leave when their peak years end has contributed to their sustained success.
Key points
- Erik ten Hag believes Cristiano Ronaldo's career peak ended after leaving Real Madrid in 2018.
- Ten Hag praised Real Madrid for recognising when to let go of established players.
- Ronaldo's relationship with ten Hag deteriorated during the 2022-23 season.
