Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan feels Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag can’t wait to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese striker recently made the request to leave the club as he wants to play in the UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo has been linked with clubs like Chelsea, Napoli, and Bayern Munich. However, Erik Ten Hag recently said that Ronaldo is not for sale and he is in plans going forward. The Dutchman also said he wants to work with the talisman.
But Jordan feels Erik Ten Hag is revealing the whole picture and wants to control the situation. Furthermore, Ronaldo is not part of Manchester United’s preseason squad in Thailand and Australia due to personal reasons.
Erik Ten Hag had recently said as quoted by Express, “I have read [that Ronaldo wants to leave], but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale. He is in our plans and we want success together. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
On the other hand, Simon Jordan believes Erik Ten Hag can’t wait to let go of Cristiano Ronaldo.
”I can imagine Ten Hag can’t wait to get Ronaldo out the bleedin’ door, but he’s towing the party line for the positioning of how that exit happens. These guys will say certain things to ensure there’s a particular perspective put on it, so they can control as much of the process as they can.”
Jordan reckons Ronaldo doesn’t want to stay at Red Devils and thus he has decided not to travel with the team for the preseason matches.
“It is nonsense that he has not gone on his tour for personal reasons. He hasn’t gone because he doesn’t want to be at Manchester United any more. Ten Hag won’t want it, he doesn’t need a revolution with a reluctant participant, especially one who will occupy far too many headlines he doesn’t need.”
He added: “He needs to build a football club and he needs everyone to pull together, not to deal and cater with one individual who is coming to the end of his career and may score X amount of goals, but takes away something from the ability to compete at the top of the division because of the way you have to play with Ronaldo in your team. Out, out, out, out, out.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United thrashed Liverpool by 4-0 at the Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand on Tuesday in their preseason game.
