Ten Hag claims Ronaldo has failed to deliver for seven or eight years since leaving Real Madrid

Erik ten Hag has sharpened his criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the 41-year-old has been unable to “deliver” for seven or eight years — dating the decline to the Portuguese forward’s departure from Real Madrid.

The remarks, made in an interview with ESPN, represent ten Hag’s most detailed public assessment yet of the falling-out that defined his early tenure at Manchester United. The Dutchman was sacked by United in October 2024 but had previously addressed the Ronaldo saga in an interview with The Athletic that same month.

“The players wanted to work for him and they looked up to him — let there be no misunderstanding about that. He is of course a tremendous player, one of the all-time greats,” ten Hag said. “But that is also the reality over the last seven, eight years: he simply can no longer deliver. From Juventus onwards it’s simply over.”

Ten Hag used Real Madrid as a model for how clubs should manage ageing superstars. “That is actually the great gift of Real Madrid. They always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment. They recognise when a player’s level is declining and they say goodbye at a moment when, to the outside world, they still appear to be at their peak.”

The breakdown between the pair became public in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute and walked down the tunnel during a Premier League victory over Tottenham. Ten Hag banished him from the first-team squad for one match before reinstating him, though Ronaldo played no part in the two fixtures that followed.

The situation deteriorated further in November 2022 when Ronaldo gave an explosive interview to Piers Morgan in which he criticised the club and its manager. United subsequently terminated his contract.

Ten Hag said he had been clear with Ronaldo from the outset about his expectations. “When I started at United, I explained to him how we were going to play, what his role in that would be, and what he could expect from me and from the team. But ultimately, you also have to deliver yourself.”

He added that Ronaldo’s physical commitment had fallen short of what the Premier League demands. “He could no longer bring himself to push through the pain and to give everything every single day and to train at his maximum in order to get fit. If you’re not fit in the Premier League, Champions League, or with the Portuguese national team, well, then you simply have no chance.”

Ronaldo, now 41, has continued to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and remains active with the Portugal national side.