Cristiano Ronaldo should have left Man Utd ‘walking off the pitch to applause’

Former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia has weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive departure from the club, insisting the Portuguese legend should have left “walking off the pitch to applause in a sold-out stadium” where “people loved him “.

Ronaldo’s love affair with United collapsed when he dropped out of the club’s plans and was repeatedly left out of his starting XI by manager Erik ten Hag.

The United star made his feelings known when he agreed to an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, in which he focused on ten Hag, former players and the way the club was run.

Antonio Valencia believes Cristiano Ronaldo should have left ‘leaving the field to applause in a sold-out stadium’

Ronaldo left Man United following his explosive club interview with Piers Morgan

This, in turn, led to the Portuguese forward leaving the club immediately by mutual consent before the World Cup.

But now another former United number 7, Antonio Valencia, has shared his views on the controversy that broke out at Old Trafford.

“It was a shame Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United the way he did. A player like him should leave a club walking off the pitch to applause in a sold-out stadium. The people there loved him,” he said. Valencia the athletic.

Valencia, who won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, three Community Shields and the Europa League with the club, added: “The interview you gave recently was unfortunate. You will have your reasons for saying what he said, but I felt really bad about the way he left the club.

I hope all goes well for you at your new club. I only wish Ronaldo the best.”

Valencia never played with Ronaldo as he joined in 2009 when the Portuguese star left for Real Madrid.

Ronaldo went on to have a miserable World Cup, being snubbed by his Portugal boss Fernando Santos, who also ruled him out after a display of bad attitude.

The Portuguese captain left the world stage in tears after his country was knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the quarterfinals, a game Ronaldo only came on in the second half.

Valencia and Ronaldo never actually played together at Old Trafford with the former Ecuadorian winger joining in 2009, the same year Cristiano made his historic move to Real Madrid.

Ronaldo’s misery continued after being snubbed by Fernando Santos before Portugal were eliminated by giant-slayer Morocco, leaving him in tears.

But, as a former club captain, he is in a good position to weigh in on what has been a tumultuous time at Manchester United.

Ten Hag and his players will soon want to put the chaos behind them when the Premier League returns after Christmas, with the United manager breaking his silence on the matter while the club trained in Spain.

The Dutchman claimed that Ronaldo had in fact stabbed him in the back while waiting for the interview to be released before first revealing that he wanted to leave Old Trafford.

Ten Hag and his team are preparing for a Carabao Cup tie against Burnley on December 21 before turning their attention to a Premier League home fixture against Nottingham Forest six days later.