Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed recent criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that the Portuguese star is ‘far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester’ and out of touch with events at his former club. Ronaldo had taken issue with ten Hag’s comments that Manchester United are ‘a long way’ from winning the Premier League and Champions League, arguing that such statements don’t embody the optimism required at the club.Ten Hag defended his position, saying, ‘It is very early in the season and it is about winning trophies, being as high as possible in the league, do everything to win every game and then we will see in May where we are in the league’. He emphasized that injuries or being in transition are never an excuse for the team, maintaining that their focus is on winning every game.Meanwhile, in a separate development, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been ordered by the French Football League (LFP) to pay €55 million to former player Kylian Mbappé for unpaid wages and bonuses. The amount includes the final third of a €36 million signing bonus and three months of unpaid wages from April to June 2024. PSG has eight days to make the payment or face potential sanctions, including a ban on player transfers and registration.In light of Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed confidence in the French star’s ability to succeed at his new club. Ronaldo praised Real Madrid’s structure and environment, stating, ‘The structure and environment of the club are good and very solid. They have a good coach and a president who has been there for many years. I don’t think it will be very difficult for him’. Ronaldo drew parallels with his own experience joining Real Madrid in 2009, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and adaptability.
Key points
- Erik ten Hag has dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of Manchester United’s ambitions.
- PSG has been ordered to pay Kylian Mbappé €55 million in unpaid wages and bonuses.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed confidence in Kylian Mbappé’s ability to succeed at Real Madrid.
Contradictions👾While Ronaldo criticizes ten Hag for lack of ambition, ten Hag maintains that the team’s focus is on winning every game and competing for trophies.
