Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Cristiano Ronaldo: Star faces media to defend Man Utd moans as shock Serie A side push for surprise signing

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal press conference

Disgruntled Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has faced the media for the first time since his controversial interview critcising the club was aired.

The Portuguese veteran is reportedly facing the sack at Old Trafford after giving a controversial interview with TV personality and journalist Piers Morgan. In the interview, Ronaldo strongly condemned the Glazers, manager Erik ten Hag and the way the club is run. Furthermore, he also turned his anger towards former teammates Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.

The result of Ronaldo airing his grievances means he is unlikely to ever play for the club again. To that end, executive co-chairman Joel Glazer is reportedly looking in to ways to tear up hos £500,000 a week contract.

And with Ten Hag making his feelings clear in a savage two-word message to Glazer, there is seemingly no way back for Ronaldo.

The interview has led to an avalanche of criticism coming Ronaldo’s way, with Lee Sharpe the latest to air his grievances.

Now for the first time since the interview was aired, Ronaldo has himself faced the media.

Speaking to the press ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener with Ghana, Ronaldo faced the press.

And rather than apologise for his actions, Ronaldo insists there are two sides to every story.

“Timing is always timing. From your side it is easy to look at how we can chose timings,” he said.

“Sometimes you write truths, sometimes you write lies. I don’t have to worry what other think. I talk when I want to. Everybody knows who I am, what I believe in.”

Fiorentina emerge as favourites to sign Cristiano Ronaldo

Wherever he ends up, a string of clubs have already distanced themselves from a potential deal to sign Ronaldo. Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon are among those to cool claims they could make a January approach.

And even though he is likely to become a free agent in the event of his sacking, there does not seem a queue of clubs queuing up to sign him.

Indeed, Real Madrid are the latest to reject claims they could launch a move after a strong message from Carlo Ancelotti.

However, reports in Italy claim Fiorentina are set to make their intentions clear about signing the star.

And according to Calciomercatoweb, their owner Rocco B. Commisso is willing to pay Ronaldo “whatever he wants” to sign.

His side are currently 10th in the Serie A and need a spark to take them to the next level.

And the signing of Ronaldo would certainly do that. However, they cannot offer Ronaldo the Champions League football he craves, nor can they match the Europa League on offer at Old Trafford.

La Viola, though, do play in the Europa Conference League which would be a first for Ronaldo were he to sign.

However, any deal is surely beyond their reach. Earning half a million a week, the player is one of the best players in the world game. And while the 37-year-old would not be able to match that salary there, it remains doubtful they could even come close to matching his demands.

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