Featured Image Credit: TalkTV & Twitter: Piers Morgan
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Premier League
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United, Premier League
Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up to Piers Morgan in what has become the most talked about football interview of 2022.
The pair came face to face on Morgan's TalkTV channel to discuss a number of stories, from Ronaldo's failed attempt to leave Manchester United in the summer to now being benched by manager Erik ten Hag and many more stories.
Ronaldo's teammates 'want him gone'
Ten Hag 'doesn't want Ronaldo to stay'
Ronaldo confirms €350m contract offer was real
'I don't respect Ten Hag'
Ronaldo unsure if he will remain at United
'Messi is a great guy'
Messi 'will be laughing' at Ronaldo interview
Ronaldo: I deserved more respect from Ten Hag
Ronaldo backs Arsenal to win Premier League title
GOOD NIGHT!
Well, that was certainly a memorable interview!
It remains to be seen how Manchester United will react and whether Ronaldo still has a future at the club.
Check back with us tomorrow when we'll continue to cover all the major talking points and reaction to the interview.
For now, that's all from me. Good night!
RONALDO UNSURE OF MAN UNITED FUTURE
Not surprisingly, Ronaldo admits he is unsure if he will still be a Manchester United player at the start of next year. Check out his comments below.
MORGAN: MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE INTERVIEW
Piers Morgan has just tweeted to call Ronaldo a "class act" and says his interview with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is his all-time favourite.
HOW HAS TWITTER REACTED?
Ronaldo's controversial interview has divided opinion on Twitter, with some fans backing the Manchester United outcast and others criticising him for choosing to speak publicly.
Check out some of the reaction on social media below.
RONALDO TO RETIRE IF PORTUGAL WIN WORLD CUP
Ronaldo also confirmed he would hang up his boots if Portugal upset the odds and won the World Cup in Qatar this winter.
The Euro 2016 winners face Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in their group.
RONALDO GIVES MORGAN'S SON BOOTS
As a gesture of gratitude for Morgan conducting his tell-all interview, Ronaldo has given the TV presenter's son Spencer a pair of his football boots. Watch the video below.
RONALDO BACK ARSENAL TO WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE
One of the key lines to come out of the second part of the interview was Ronaldo revealing that he "hopes" Arsenal win the Premier League title this season.
Perhaps not too surprising, given Manchester United's rivals Manchester City are the Gunners' main title challengers this season.
Ronaldo was himself linked with a move to City ahead of the rejoining United but henow appears to have given up on a potential move to the Etihad, backing Mikel Arteta's side to be crowned champions this season.
THAT'S ALL FROM RONALDO!
So that's it from the second part of Cristiano Ronaldo's fascinating interview with Piers Morgan.
Stick with us as we took a more in depth look at the biggest talking points and gauge the reaction online.
RONALDO PLANNING A BOOK?
Ronaldo has now joked he could write his own book - Cristiano Ronaldo’s 12 Rules to Life.
“Why not? For the future, probably… I want to educate not only my family but my fans. As you know, I have a lot, millions of fans. Probably for the future I want to do some book. But not the type of book… But to help people; how to be, how to maintain longevity.
“How to win, which is the most important. I have experience to inspire people for that. I think I am a role model and I can help many, many people in that way, if they want my help.”
'I'M A HUGE FAN OF HIS'
Talk has moved on to Ronaldo’s friendship with controversial media personality and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.
“I’m a huge fan of his. I read his book, 12 Rules, and I felt that he’s a really interesting guy and I love to meet smart people. Fantastic man. And I learned a lot. Some advice that he give me…
“We had a nice strategic conversation. Not only for the moment of my life, not only for football, because my life is not all football. I am a businessman. I have many important things in my life.
“And when you are surrounded with these people with you, people that make your life more interesting, they reach something in your daily life. I appreciate because it’s that kind of people that thinking outside the box, which I appreciate. We had a nice conversation, strategic conversation.”
RONALDO'S RETIREMENT PLANS
Ronaldo has now revealed when he plans to finally hang up his boots.
“I want to play two years more, three years more. So two or three years maximum. I want to finish with 40. I think 40, will be a good age… But I don't know, I don't know the future.
"Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as I told many times, the life is dynamic. And you never know what's going to happen.”
'I HOPE ARSENAL WIN THE TITLE'
Ronaldo, unsurprisingly, says he would prefer Arsenal to win the Premier League this season instead of Manchester City – but only if Manchester United are out of the race.
“Manchester first, and if not, Arsenal is some team that I like to see play.”
On Arsenal, he added: “I like the team. I like the coach. I think they have a good team. And if Manchester United don’t win the Premier League, I will be happy if Arsenal do.”
'MESSI IS A GREAT GUY'
Ronaldo has nothing but praise for his great rival. He also goes on to joke that they would sell a lot of shirts if they played in the same team.
“Amazing player is magic, top… As a person, we share the stage 16 years, imagine, 16 years. we share. So, I have great relationship with him. I'm not friend of him in terms of, what I mean friend is the guy who was with you in your house, speaking on the phone, no, but it's like a teammate.
“He’s a guy that I really respect the way he always speak about me. Even his wife or my wife, my girlfriend, they always respect and they're from Argentina. My girlfriend is from Argentina. So good. What I am going to say about Messi? A great guy who does great things for football.”
RONALDO ON FACING MESSI
When asked if beating Messi's Argentina in the final is his biggest dream, Ronaldo says: "Too good! If this happens I will retire! 100 per cent."
RONALDO ON QATAR AS HOSTS
Ronaldo says he isn't focused on the politics surrounding the World Cup and is only focused on the competition itself.
“Exactly they should concentrate it in, in all competitions. All the national teams, the people to be welcome in Qatar, and I see, I see a good tournament to be honest. I think Qatar; they are prepared.
“They are prepared for that, and will be weird to play in the beginning of the season. Yes. But in the same way, a challenge. I think it's to be honest, it’s good. I feel good. I feel with good energy.”
WORLD CUP WIN IS POSSIBLE
Ronaldo says he is looking forward to the World Cup with Portugal but expects it to be his last.
He also believes England have a “good chance” along with the likes of France, Spain, Brazil and Argentina.
“I am very optimistic. We have a fantastic coach, we have a good generation of football players. I'm looking forward that we're going to it an amazing World Cup… [It’s] gonna be tough. Extremely difficult. But everything is possible. But of course we're gonna compete.”
MESSI CHAT COMING UP!
Morgan has just announced that Ronaldo's comments about rival Lionel Messi are coming up in the next section of the interview.
Could the PSG star be watching?
ON SIR ALEX FERGUSON
Ronaldo says United’s legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson is also “always” on his side.
“I don't speak with him like one month ago, but he's always on my side. He always understand me. He knows that, he knows better than nobody that the club is not on the path they deserve to be. He knows. Everyone knows.
“The people who don't see that is because they don't want to see; they are blamed. The fans, they are always the answer, and the passion for the game. Manchester belongs to the fans, but they should know the truth. The infrastructure, they are not good. They should change.”
'THE FANS WILL ALWAYS BE ON MY SIDE'
Ronaldo says he can deal with the criticism he has received for doing his interview with Morgan but says he retains the support of Manchester United's fans.
“They criticise me when I don’t speak, of course, they’re gonna criticise me when I do speak - even more. But it’s something that I can deal with that. I know I’m going to be disappointing a few people. Maybe I’m going to make up a few people. But it is what it is. The life is completely difficult, we have obstacles in our lives. And I will keep running to fight against the people who don’t believe me, and the life is a challenge, and I want people to know they’re wrong…
“It's hard, it's hard for me to say that I will not be back to Manchester United. But regardless, as you say, it's… let's see what's going to happen.
“But as I told you before, the fans for me always will be in my side, will be always in my heart. I see during the days when I go to the streets, the love, the passion, that people have for me, the respect. I hope that they never forget the things that I will continue to do it. Not only in the past, but in the present too.
“Manchester will be always in my side, the fans will be always in my side; doesn't matter what's going to happen. And I appreciate the love that they send for me all the time. Even when I'm done play. We even, when they, when they criticise me, they always will be in my heart. So thank you to all the support. I hope to see you soon. And they always will be in my heart.”
ON TURNING DOWN HUGE PAY DAY
More on that mega-money offer from Saud Arabia, Ronaldo says it was hard to turn down such a lucractive contract.
“It's hard, it's hard. But in the same way, I thought that I was very happy here; that I still capable to score goals… I still believe that I can score many, many goals and help the team because I still believe that I'm still good and capable to help national team - even Manchester United. But if you don’t feel around you that the energy’s on your side, it’s difficult.
“Of course, the criticism is gonna exists all the time. ‘Ah he’s 37, he’s not the same’. But I want to see if some guy of my age can maintain the level that I show… Yes, in this moment, I feel very, very good…. I believe that I'm going to do an amazing World Cup and I’m prepared, physically and mentally… But Piers, it is what it is.
“Life’s good, I’m good, my mental [outlook] is good. I’m happy to do this interview with you. I know we’re gonna generate many polemic.”
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