November 17, (THEWILL) – The first segment of Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan has finally been made available.
The Portuguese star has been the subject of intense attention ever since the Talk TV host hinted about the heated conversation on Sunday. The disgruntled Manchester United player has already accused the club of betraying him while also criticising Erik ten Hag and the club’s former boss, Ralf Rangnick.
Part one of the interview is available and Ronaldo answered questions on his history with United, his friendship with girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez and the devastating death of their son with unexpected condolences from the Royal Family. Here are his words in response to Morgan’s questions in full.
On why he joined Man Utd again – and rumours he almost went to rivals Man City
“Well, honestly, it was close… But as you know, as my history at Manchester United, your heart, you’re feeling the way these two that you did before, make the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson. So I was surprised. And the same way, but it was conscious decision. Because the heart speaks, speaking loud in that moment.”
On Sir Alex Ferguson’s part in him rejoining his old team
“I think it was the key. It was the difference in that moment, but I cannot be loyal if I will, I wouldn’t say that Manchester City wasn’t close. But I think, I did [make] a conscious decision. I don’t regret at some point. And as you mentioned before, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key. Yes, I did. I spoke with him… He said to me that, ‘It’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City’. And I say, ‘OK, Boss’. So I took the decisions and I repeat with very, I was with conscience that it was a good decision.”
On his dream start back at Old Trafford after scoring two goals
“Well, that feeling was amazing. But not only the day of the game, I felt before the week before that everything changed. The world speak about me, Cristiano, ‘back home back where I belong’. So it was a special moment to be back to Manchester United to perform for our fans, and of course to score two goals was the best welcome that I received in Old Trafford. It was a memorable day and unbelievable day to… Yes, ‘Viva Ronaldo’ [the chant], me back… as I told you before, the fans for me, they are everything.”
On how he found the club after being away for so many years
“Piers, to be honest, when I signed for Manchester United, I thought everything was changed because it’s 13 years… I was in Real Madrid nine years and three in Juventus. And when I arrived, I thought everything will be different, you know, the technology, the infrastructures and everything. But I was surprised, in a bad way, let’s say in that way because I saw everything was the same.
“And Manchester it wasn’t, in that moment that as you mentioned that Ole was sacked, Michael Carrick he assumed the job for two games. Villareal, and Chelsea away. And everything was so fast, but surprised me a lot, [the] instability in the club. No, they stopped on a clock, in my opinion, which is something that surprised me.”
On transfers and failure to improve facilities
“I was surprised. I thought when I signed that they sign in that year Sancho, and Varane, plus me, that things will be in the way that Manchester should be. As you mentioned, well, Sir Alex Ferguson left a big gap in the club, not only Sir Alex Ferguson, one person that I thought made the difference; David Gill, the President, is a very, very good man. And the structure around Sir Alex Ferguson was very important too. So I knew that Manchester United wasn’t the same. But don’t see that it was so big a gap. So big things that go through by the last 10 years, and it was the thing that surprised me more, to be honest…
“At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion. To compare with Real Madrid and even Juventus, that they follow the rest of the world, so the technology, especially in terms of training, nutrition and conditions of, eat properly and to recover better than before – surprised me. Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it’s behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level.
“I don’t know what’s going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero.”
On his tricky relationship with Ralf Rangnick
“Of course, I respect, we have to call because he assumed the job regardless – all the coaches that I had in my career, I call them boss because if they assume the job we have to call in that way. But in the end, the deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss because I saw some points that I never agreed …”
On Rangnick’s approach and criticism in the press
“To be honest, Piers, it’s something that I don’t understand. It’s the new coaches that are coming around, they think they find the last Coca-Cola in the desert, which is I don’t understand the football that invents many, many years.
“But I respect any coach, every different approach, different opinions, different mentality, but kind of some points that you’re, you’re not agree. So I’m always like that in my life. I’ve always been, besides the best coaches in the world: Zidane and Ancelloti, Mourinho, Fernando Santos, Allegri… So I have kind of, some experience because I learn from them.
“And when you see some coaches that are coming, that they want the revolution [in] the football, I don’t agree, I have my opinion. They agree or they don’t, they disagree, but it’s part of the business because at the end of the day, I’m in a club to win, and with my experience, I want to help. Like always, and some coaches that don’t accept and, you know, it’s part of the job.”
On whether Rangnick knew what he was doing
“No, they don’t. They knew with the club, very well. But they don’t know the main dimension of the club inside, the history of the club. Which is, for me, surprised me even more. Which is when you sack Ole Solskjaer, you should bring a top manager, not a Sports Director.”
On Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit
“I love Solskjaer. I think he was a top person, because what I keep inside my heart, it’s the heart of the persons. And Ole for me, is a top person… It’s hard. It’s hard to assume [the role] after Sir Alex Ferguson, but I think he did a good job for sure. You need much more time. But I’m never doubt that you’re going to be a good coach in the future. But it was a good experience. I was, I was so pleased to work with him even for a short period.”
On Man Utd’s youngsters not following his example
“All leagues in the world, the youngest now, they are not the same as my generation. But we cannot blame them because, it’s part of the life, you know. The new generation and the new technologies that avoid, they distract them for another thing so… But they are not the same that, they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side.
“So, it don’t surprise me. But in the same way it’s a little bit shame because if they have the best examples in front of your eyes, and if they don’t at least copy what you did, for me, it’s kind of weird, because I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I’m always looked to see the best players when Van Nistelrooy, Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Giggs – this is why I have the success that I have and longevity. Because I take care of my body, my mentality, my head, because I see these guys and I learn from them.”
On the best advice he had for younger players
“I’m not the kind of guy who likes to give advice as I prefer to be an example. Because I’m an example. I’m there every morning and do the same stuff. I’m probably the first one to arrive and the last one to go out. I think the details speak for itself… This is why I say, I like to lead by example.”
On the tragic death of his baby son
“In the beginning. Gio are arriving home and the kids start to say where’s the other baby? Where’s the other baby? Of course Cristiano [his eldest son], I had a conversation with him in the day, because he’s 12 years old, he knows, understands everything, and I had a nice conversation with him. We cried together in his bedroom and explained and it’s kind of – he doesn’t understand, he does understand, but in same way he was a little bit confused.
“The other ones in the beginning, on the table, the kids start to say “Mom where is the other baby bla bla bla – and you in the beginning they start to say because, you know, she had a little bit of a belly because they had two, it’s a hard process. And after one week I say, ‘Let’s be up front and let’s be honest with the kids, let’s say that, Angel, which is the name, they go to the Heaven’.
“It’s better to say in that way and we start to use that in that way. And the kids always understand, when we had shouts in at the table and they say ‘daddy I did this for Angel’ and they point out for the, for the sky… I like it the most because, you know it’s part of their lives and I am not gonna lie to my kids to say the true, which is it was a difficult process but in the same way, I become more more father, more friendly with them; they become more close to their Daddy especially me with the Georgina as well.”
On how the intense pressure of losing a baby had affected his relationship
“In my case it was more, [it] was better in that way. I became more friendly of Gio, I was, of course, a friend, but I seem more lovely for her and for my kids and I start to see the life with a different perspective… It was the most difficult moments, the last six months, my dad died, it was this moment that I passed through the last six months.”
On keeping his son’s ashes
“For sure, for sure. His ashes is with me, like my Daddy, they are here in the house…Yes is something that I want to hold for the rest of my life and not throw to the ocean or to the sea. I keep with me. They are next to my dad… I have a small church … Yes, chapel. And I keep my daddy and my son [there]. I talk with them every time and they are by my side. You know they helped me to be a better man, to be a better person, to be a better father. I am really proud of the message they send me, especially my son.”
On being supported in his grief by the fans the Royal Family
“I never, ever expect that. Never. I have the opportunity now to say, all English community, thank you a lot for that, [it] kind of helped with me… I received a letter from The Queen’s family as well … And, surprised me a lot… This is why I say, I respect a lot, the English community, English people, because they’ve been very kind with me. And in that difficult moment of my life… [the support] was spectacular. The way they treat me, me and my family in that difficult moment, I should say straight to the camera thank you, ‘Thank you, to the all English community that helped me in that moment’.”
On whether he was planning any more children
“I’m not thinking now, to thinking more kids, I think we are done but we never know the future only God know. But right now we all want to have a break to enjoy these ones because they are little… we want to enjoy a little bit of these ones. Let’s see in the future.”
On returning to the field after the tragic loss of his son
“But as I always have good support from my family. And Georgina told me ‘Go, go to play, go enjoy to do what you’d like to do.’ It’s going to help for you to forget a little bit, the situation. It was difficult, but at the same point that thing helps for you to, you know, to not think too much about that even though training was good. But as you know, the football going so fast and you know trainings, games, even the national team, the things going so fast you don’t even have time to settle and say what’s going on, you know, because the things are going so fast. But it was good help, Georgina helped me a lot to give me that stability, to say ‘listen’.
“We help each other. But she struggled when she was young, which is, she now, she’ll look at life with a different eyes, even though she’s young, but she’s suffered. She was born in Argentina, she has issues with her family as well, she lived alone. She has an interesting life and histories as well… And she helped me a lot. She’s very mature for this age, we help each other sometimes when I’m a little bit down she pushes me up and I do it the other side. So we are a nice couple and we help each other so I’m really pleased that she’s on my side.”
On any imminent plans to get married
“I’m not thinking now about that but I can see in the future I think I deserve, she deserves, but it’s something that’s not coming now in my plans but in the future is yes, I want.”
On the criticism he has faced at Man Utd
“And I’m used to live like that because, you know, I was 37, I know and I learned many things. When you are at the down of the wave, when you are at the top of the wave, you don’t realise and you don’t see things that you don’t see before… Which is, I appreciate to have bad moments, to see which people are on your side, who will criticise you more. Because they’re looking for that. They don’t like to see successful people.
“The people only try to bring negativity. And I felt the last four or five months that, not only for me, but even for my family as well, for Georgina, especially around the world, the press criticise me even more…sometimes I don’t understand. I care for the people who like me. I’m not wasting time, for the people who don’t like me. I think it’s a waste of time, these people are not interesting in my life.”
On criticism from former team-mates including Wayne Rooney
“I really don’t understand people like that. Or if they want to be in a cover of the paper of the news, or they want new jobs or whatever. But I still believe that the jealousy is part of that. They want to cover many things that helps to shine other things. But listen, Piers, I know I’m 21 years in top of the game, so I know all the takes, so for me it’s not a problem. It’s hard when you are a little bit down to listen to this criticism.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
