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Cristiano Ronaldo has launched an astonishing attack on Manchester United and manager Erik ten Hag that looks certain to end his Old Trafford career.

Ronaldo accused Ten Hag and United executives of trying to force him out of the club, saying he has no respect for the Dutchman and feels ‘betrayed’.

‘I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,’ said Ronaldo.

‘Some people, they don’t want me here – not only the coach but the other two or three guys. Not only this year, but last year too.

‘Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. But listen, I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.’ 

Ronaldo missed United’s last game before the World Cup through illness on Sunday, but Ten Hag will be incandescent that the 37-year-old’s comments will overshadow the 2-1 win at Fulham and Alejandro Garnacho’s injury-time goal.

The United boss thought he had settled his differences with Ronaldo after the player was dropped and fined for refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month and then leaving before the game had finished.

Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo has sat down for an explosive interview with Piers Morgan

Man Utd star Cristiano Ronaldo has sat down for an explosive interview with Piers Morgan

During the interview, he claimed he felt 'betrayed' by Manchester United since his return

Ronaldo also admitted he has no respect for current United boss Erik Ten Hag

During the interview, he claimed he felt ‘betrayed’ by Manchester United since his return and that he had no respect for current Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag (right)

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was allowed back into the squad after apologising and was even made team captain at Aston Villa last week.

However, Ronaldo’s outburst makes it almost impossible for him to stay at Old Trafford beyond the January transfer window, leaving United and Ten Hag with little choice but to find him a new club.

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His team-mates were said to be deeply disappointed by his comments on Sunday night and see it as way to force his departure from Old Trafford which they now believe is inevitable.

In the explosive interview with his friend Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Ronaldo also criticised the club’s last of progress since he first left in 2009.

He added: ‘Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero. 

Ronaldo has endured a frustrating season that has seen him fall out of favour under Ten Hag

Ronaldo has endured a frustrating season that has seen him fall out of favour under Ten Hag

‘Nothing changed. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. They stopped in time, which surprised me a lot.

‘I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. But you have some things inside [the club] that don’t help reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.’ 

Ronaldo cited the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager last season as an example of the club’s problems.

‘I’d never even heard of him. If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Man United?’ 

And he even had a pop at former team-mate Wayne Rooney, saying: ‘I don’t know why he criticises me so badly, probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at high level.

‘I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him, which is true!’

United last night declined to comment but sources said they would not allow the interview to take anything away from the win at Fulham.

Ronaldo has also lashed out at Wayne Rooney following his ex-team-mate's criticism of him

Ronaldo has also lashed out at Wayne Rooney following his ex-team-mate’s criticism of him

Ronaldo finished as United’s top scorer last season with 24 goals in all competitions, but the Red Devils only managed to finish sixth in the Premier League.

This led to a change of manager over the summer, with Ten Hag arriving on a long-term contract from Ajax.

Ronaldo and Ten Hag’s relationship has appeared strained since the start of the season after the Portuguese star told United he wanted to leave in July.

Ronaldo did not get his move, and has gone on to start just four league games for the side this term.

He has openly shown his frustration at times, refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month, as exclusively revealed by Sportsmail, before storming down the tunnel and leaving Old Trafford prior to the final whistle.

This led to him being banished from the squad for the next game against Chelsea, and despite being welcomed back into the fold since then, Ronaldo has revealed that he has no time for Ten Hag.

United beat Fulham on 2-1 on Sunday, but are still 11 points behind leaders Arsenal

United beat Fulham on 2-1 on Sunday, but are still 11 points behind leaders Arsenal

When Ronaldo returned to United, he initially worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but his former team-mate was sacked last November after a poor run of results.

This led to the 13-time Premier League champions appointing an interim manager in Rangnick until the end of the season.

United’s results failed to improve under Rangnick, and Ronaldo has now questioned whether he had the credentials to manage the club in the first place after spending much of the previous decade as a sporting director.

Following victory at Fulham, the Red Devils head into the World Cup break in fifth place, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.

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A title tilt already appears to be beyond United, and Ronaldo has criticised the club for not kicking on since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013. He believes dramatic changes need to be made before United can challenge for major silverware again.

‘The progress was zero. Since Sir Alex left, I saw no evolution in the club. Nothing had changed,’ Ronaldo admitted when speaking about what he returned to last year after 12 years away from Old Trafford.  

‘I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. This is why I come to Manchester United.

Ronaldo thinks United haven't evolved at all since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013

Ronaldo thinks United haven’t evolved at all since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013

‘But you have some things inside that don’t help (us) reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal… a club with this dimension should be top of the tree in my opinion and they are not unfortunately.  

‘As Picasso said, you have to destroy it to rebuild it (the artist’s exact quote was: “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction”. And if they start with me, for me, it’s not a problem.

‘I love Manchester United, I love the fans, they’re always on my side. But if they want to do it different… they have to change many, many things.’

Ronaldo is now set to head to Qatar with Portugal to play at his fifth World Cup.

United are due to play a Carabao Cup tie with Burnley, and two league matches against Nottingham Forest and Wolves when domestic action returns next month before the January transfer window opens. 

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