English Premier Leaue club Manchester United have begun the process to sack striker Cristiano Ronaldo following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in which he slammed the club.
United have been taking legal advice and it is understood lawyers have told them they have grounds to terminate Ronaldo’s deal for breach of contract.
United issued a statement which read: “Manchester United has this morning initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo ’s recent media interview. We will not be making further comment until this process reaches its conclusion.”
Although United would not expand on what constitutes “appropriate steps”, sources have indicated that they are looking to impose the ultimate sanction on Ronaldo.
In his explosive interview on TalkTV, Ronaldo accused United’s hierarchy of trying to force him out and claimed he had no respect for boss Erik ten Hag.
United are confident they have grounds for cancelling Ronaldo’s deal, which has six months left to run, for bringing the club into disrepute.
Ronaldo and his representatives are certain to take legal action to counter United’s move, which will cost the 37-year-old superstar around £16million in lost wages.
Among the many controversial comments made in his interview, Ronaldo claimed there had been “zero progress” at United since he left them for Real Madrid in 2009.
United’s hierarchy, comprising owner Joel Glazer, chief executive Richard Arnold, football director John Murtough and boss Ten Hag have been locked in talks over how to deal with Ronaldo in the wake of his interview, in which he claimed the club “betrayed” him.
After taking such a hardline stance on Ronaldo when he refused to come on against Tottenham and left Old Trafford before the final whistle in United’s 2-0 win, Ten Hag has told bosses there is no way the 37-year-old can play for him again.
United’s players do not expect to see Ronaldo again after the World Cup, with the squad having grown tired of his whining and posturing over his perceived mistreatment, according to sources.
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