Roy Keane insist Cristiano Ronaldo should have left Manchester United ‘in the summer’

Roy Keane insists Cristiano Ronaldo should have left Manchester United in the summer – and claims Erik ten Hag should have handled the situation differently.

It comes less than 24 hours after United sensationally announced that the Portuguese striker’s contract with the club had been terminated with immediate effect by mutual consent – a week after his stellar interview with Piers Morgan.

Keane believes Ronaldo’s two-part interview with Morgan, in which he criticized the club and the manager, was the “tipping point” for his former team-mate.

Roy Keane insists Cristiano Ronaldo should have left Manchester United in the summer

Ronaldo has left United with immediate effect after his contract was mutually terminated with the club on Tuesday

“It’s been on the map for a few months now. The interview was the tipping point. It’s like a divorce, the end of a relationship,” Keane told ITV.

“He should have left in the summer, the new manager would never play him. You can’t have Ronaldo as a marginal player, it’s just not right.’

Ronaldo’s interview with Morgan was broadcast last week in which Ronaldo did not make a fist and admitted that he had ‘no respect’ for Ten Hag, because he felt that the Dutchman did not respect him.

And Keane thinks Ten Hag should have treated Ronaldo differently given his status in the game.

Keane thinks Erik ten Hag should have treated Ronaldo differently at Manchester United

‘The Dutch are real talkers. Good thing for the club, him and the fans,” added Keane. “Once the World Cup is over, they’ll be back in the league and want to get off to a flying start

“You have to treat the top players differently. I don’t want to get down the road again about putting pressure on, Ronaldo didn’t come back to the club to do that, he came back to score goals.

“Let him go in the summer before things really get messy. Ronaldo’s patience is running out there. I think it’s very simple, people say his reputation at United has been tarnished. Far from it. United fans are not crazy.

Ronaldo will go down as one of the greatest players. It didn’t end well, but that’s life. I think he will love being part of the Portuguese squad and showing his qualities.’

Keane believes Ten Hag would never play Ronaldo after he took over as manager

In his telling interview, Ronaldo also labeled United a ‘marketing club’, accusing the Glazer family of caring more about off-pitch activities than what happens on the pitch.

As revealed exclusively by Sports mailRonaldo will not receive any compensation, meaning he will not get the £16 million he should have earned if he had paid out his contract.

Ronaldo’s departure was not the only major statement released on Tuesday night, as minutes after his contract was torn up, the Glazer family confirmed they are open to selling the club.

They have owned the Red Devils since 2005, but their reign could end in the not too distant future.

Keane (front) has been one of Ronaldo’s biggest supporters since his return to Old Trafford

Meanwhile, Ronaldo is now a free agent and has been linked with a move to Chelsea, with Blues owner Todd Boehly reportedly keen to bring the Portuguese star to Stamford Bridge.

His club’s future remains uncertain, but Ronaldo recently stressed that he is “committed and focused” on Portugal, with the striker aiming to lead his country to victory in its fifth World Cup.