Erik ten Hag given blunt Cristiano Ronaldo verdict as Sir Jim Ratcliffe considers Man Utd change

Wesley Sneijder has suggested Manchester United's problems started when Erik ten Hag axed Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad.

The pair clashed and Ten Hag dropped him to the bench in the early weeks of his tenure at Old Trafford. Ronaldo admitted he felt betrayed by the Dutch boss and wanted to leave the club, in an interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022.

Ronaldo made several scathing comments while also criticising the Glazer family's stewardship of the club. Ronaldo and Ten Hag's falling out began during pre-season when the Portuguese international left the friendly against Rayo Vallecano before full-time. He was left out of the clash with Liverpool and also stormed down the tunnel during the win over Tottenham.

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Ronaldo's contract was terminated by mutual agreement and he went on to join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Dutch legend Sneijder believes those early problems contributed to players losing respect for him, as the pressure continues to mount and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering a change in the summer.

Speaking on Dutch TV show Veronica Offside on Monday night, Sneijder said: "Should I tell you where it went wrong for Erik ten Hag? On the day that he decided to battle Cristiano Ronaldo. That's where he started losing all the respect.

"He thought it would work out well for him, but it's the opposite. Everyone in the dressing room wondered if he is alright in the head by doing that."

On the suggestions that Ten Hag may leave United at the end of the season with former club Ajax claimed to be interested, Sneijder added: "Of course he already knows that he has to leave. But you’re not going to go yourself. If I was him, I would sit there comfortably [until he’s sacked]."

United's hopes of a top-four finish were crushed following the 1-1 draw with Burnley last weekend. They are now left to fight to claim a place in the Europa League though Ten Hag insisted the club are building a team for the future.

He said: "We have some very young players and that’s why we built this club back. That takes time, and we build this by bringing in young players.

"Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo – they are all in the first season of the Premier League and the Premier League gets more intense year by year. We have seen the data and it’s much more intense than last season, especially when you see over the last four or five seasons.

"Those players have to adjust and that takes time. I am sorry for everyone. So, I am very impatient but there we need patience and fans they need patience. We built here a team, and they need experience."