Scandal! Ten Hag tears Ronaldo apart

Erik ten Hag has launched another devastating attack on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Details: Speaking on ESPN's Goedemorgen Eredivisie, the former Manchester United manager revisited his turbulent relationship with the Portuguese superstar and explained why he believes Ronaldo was no longer capable of meeting the demands of elite football.

• Also read: Ronaldo's goal rush meets Pakhtakor's resistance: Pakhtakor vs Al Nassr prediction – 02.11.2026

Ten Hag initially acknowledged Ronaldo's extraordinary status and the admiration he commanded among his teammates:

“The players wanted to work for him and they looked up to him. Let there be no misunderstanding about that. He is, of course, a tremendous player, one of the greatest of all time.”

However, the Dutchman then delivered a brutal assessment:

“But the reality is that over the last 7 or 8 years, he simply has not been able to deliver anymore. From Juventus onwards, it was simply over.”

Ten Hag also praised Real Madrid's approach to ageing stars:

“And that is actually Real Madrid's great strength. They always know when to say goodbye to players. Real Madrid recognise when a player's level is declining, and they say goodbye at a moment when, to the outside world, they still appear to be at their peak. But they can no longer actually deliver, without it becoming painful.”

The former United boss insisted that he had clearly communicated his expectations:

“When I started at Manchester United, I explained to Ronaldo how we were going to play, what his role would be, what I expected of him, and what he could expect from me and from the team.”

Ten Hag concluded with particularly harsh criticism of Ronaldo's physical preparation:

“But ultimately, you also have to deliver yourself. As I just said, he could no longer bring himself to push through the pain, to give everything every single day, and to train at his maximum in order to get fit. And if you're not fit in the Premier League, the Champions League, or with the Portuguese national team, well, then you simply have no chance.”

It is worth noting that on October 29, the 41-year-old Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in just 15 minutes as Al Nassr defeated Al Kholood 5-3 in the Saudi Pro League.

Reminder: 41 years old and unstoppable! Cristiano Ronaldo scores incredible hat-trick in just 15 minutes