Amidst the bustling football season, Manchester United has found itself in the limelight, not for its on-field performances, but for the controversies surrounding its players and management. The recent revelations about the club's internal dynamics have raised eyebrows and sparked debates among football enthusiasts worldwide.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, whose second stint with Manchester United began in 2021, left the club under a cloud of tension. Despite finishing as the club's top scorer in the 2021-22 season with 24 goals, Ronaldo's relationship with the club's manager, Erik ten Hag, deteriorated rapidly. The Portuguese superstar publicly criticized Ten Hag, expressing his lack of respect for the Dutch manager, who had frequently benched him and even suspended him on one occasion.
Arturo Vidal, the former FC Barcelona midfielder, weighed in on the situation during a recent Twitch stream. Vidal expressed his disbelief at Ten Hag's decision to sideline Ronaldo, stating, "How are you going to get Cristiano Ronaldo out? Cristiano was the scorer, and they take him out." Vidal further added a cryptic comment about bald managers, saying they are "complicated", possibly alluding to his past experiences with Jorge Sampaoli, his former manager at Flamengo.
Following the rift with Ten Hag, Ronaldo made a surprising move to the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr. Since joining the Riyadh-based club earlier this year, Ronaldo has played 19 games, scoring 14 goals and providing two assists. However, Al-Nassr's performance in the league has been less than stellar, currently sitting fifth in the league table.
The Ronaldo-Ten Hag saga isn't the only controversy brewing at Old Trafford. Jadon Sancho, another star player for Manchester United, has found himself at odds with Ten Hag. After being dropped from a crucial match against Arsenal, Sancho took to social media to voice his frustrations, hinting at being made a "scapegoat" at the club. Although the post was later deleted, Sancho reportedly refused to apologize to Ten Hag, leading to further disciplinary actions. The English winger has since been relegated to the club's academy side and has been barred from using the first-team facilities.
Several senior players, including Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford, have reportedly urged Sancho to mend fences with Ten Hag. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has also offered its assistance to help resolve the ongoing dispute.
As Manchester United grapples with these internal challenges, fans and pundits alike are keenly watching how the club navigates these turbulent waters and what impact it might have on their performance in the coming matches.
