Days after Cristiano Ronaldo's explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed that the Portuguese talisman has left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Manchester United's love-hate relationship with iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo has finally ended. The Premier League giants on Tuesday confirmed that the Portuguese talisman has left Old Trafford after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, days after the 37-year-old's explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future," read the official announcement.
"Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."
Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford.
In a 90-minute long interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, Ronaldo slammed United for betraying him, spoke about his rocky relationship with Ten Hag, the abysmal state of affairs at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson's exit and more. The interview, aired just before the Qatar World Cup 2022, sparked massive outrage among football enthusiasts, with several football pundits claiming that this was the beginning of the end of a relationship that started in 2003.
Also read: Revealed: What does Cristiano Ronaldo truly think about arch-rival Lionel Messi
"Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early," read a statement from Ronaldo himself.
"I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge. I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner added.
No longer under contract, Ronaldo will be available for clubs to sign as a free agent. It will be interesting to see what transpires for the Portuguese icon in the future, with David Beckham's Inter Miami, the only club reportedly keen to sign the iconic striker.
"Siuuu later Ronaldo," wrote most fans on Twitter after United released an official statement. Another fan stated, "Probably the best way to part... Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United are no more. Legal action avoided which both were happy with."
"The fans will always be with you @Cristiano thanks for doing the incredible interview with @piersmorgan you will always be the greatest player of all time, wherever you go next ….. hopefully @Arsenal," said another supporter.
Here's a look at some of the reactions:
Siuuu you later https://t.co/HpLfy4n2jc
— Rich Fay (@RichFay)Probably the best way to part... Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United are no more.
Legal action avoided which both were happy with. https://t.co/ROExTE6heW
The fans will always be with you thanks for doing the incredible interview with ❤️ you will always be the greatest player of all time, wherever you go next ….. hopefully 😆 https://t.co/XLH09IjM5Z
— 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 (@Matt_Pinner)Classless end at United for 1 of greatest players we have ever seen! Mourinho, Ibrahimovic and , all serial winners speaking out about the rotting core at United and wanting to drive standards to help achieve success, but instead of listening; owners got them out! https://t.co/K4jeL5bx3y
— James Caton BA (Hons) (@James_Caton94)Now let's hope no more distractions for Ten Hag's project https://t.co/tptWq7tlTc
— Vishnu Prasad (@visheprasad)We're free of this cancerous clubpic.twitter.com/cF3pbRFD91 https://t.co/W65vye0C9V
— Löçky 🇺🇾🇧🇷 (@somaIiba)With the World Cup as his shop window, Cristiano Ronaldo is going to have a dominant tournament, then he’d make a pick from many big clubs waiting at the end of the tournament. https://t.co/aFVbnqi8o3
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa)Good riddance. 👋 https://t.co/iJfDtOLJhI pic.twitter.com/1nTyRTAHkt
— Simon 🏁 (@simonsays_95)Hasn’t sunk in yet, but so sad to see the homecoming end like this. United failed him.
Nothing will change the fact that he’s not only the greatest player to play for United, but in history. 🐐
Thanks for the memories 💔 https://t.co/fqOTU47Eg7 pic.twitter.com/grBDNiDGTP
new striker in january https://t.co/Ev5EnPldsY pic.twitter.com/5p58bknDLT
— nelly 🇬🇭🇧🇷🏴 (@n3lliantte)Let everyone have peace. Good for the club, Good for Cristiano Ronaldo. https://t.co/aqVTxuGZAp
— Damilola Alagbe (@dammydudu)Unsure how to feel about the Ronaldo saga! Appreciate the memories and guess they outweigh the recent bitterness. ’ll always be a legend, just not as great a one he could’ve been… https://t.co/fQykp9mkDy
— Utathya Nag (@utathya10)All this story telling for that? Really https://t.co/EVqBrTKfkv pic.twitter.com/2jJMzXGYxM
— The Admiral (@rlk_714947)WE'RE FREEEEEEEEEEEE https://t.co/01YAfN9pVk pic.twitter.com/tRbnVZcrg9
— 𝑻𝒋 (@TJ45_)YYYAAAAASSSSSS THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFEEEEEEEEEEEEE https://t.co/VtZMmkRymQ pic.twitter.com/YqwUoCXGTE
— srtaintelectual, Ph.D. (@srtaintelectual)Now we are free https://t.co/xeTlCQgtdm pic.twitter.com/AiqwcreGgy
— Hari (@harics10)Still can't believe he did what he did. I expected better from him. I'll always love him but I guess this is better for everyone and no player is bigger than the club. We gave him so much love and... 💔💔💔💔💔💔 https://t.co/ZozQ5ymL2E
— Miss Red Devil (@soniabhojane)During the and following the exclusive interview with , is no longer a player. Both have agreed to mutually part ways. https://t.co/liOP7VNhzz
— Tyson Fedor (@TysonFedorTV)football won today https://t.co/zKG4qjYypS pic.twitter.com/8PVbLWIZGH
— a (@abdlrhmanelg)SUUUUUUIII you later Ronny https://t.co/kHgEZx5Han
— Charlie Morley (@CharlieMorley_)group stage exit next pic.twitter.com/xGze6UyldN https://t.co/VxIg7Xparq
— f ❦ 🇸🇴🇩🇰🇧🇷 (@filsanxc)FREE AT LAST https://t.co/AdDwKYvR7s pic.twitter.com/IEnDCs5mt9
— Tempest 🇵🇹 #WcSzn (@MartinelliFan1)boyyyy if you man knew the way i was fighting for my life irl last season https://t.co/4l49B6l3Gd pic.twitter.com/8AwbbXSKy5
— ™️ (@StiIINiINiI)HES FREEE https://t.co/5Vm0dhkkiV pic.twitter.com/w2ohqYRw1z
— Ethan🏴 (@KuluSZN)Let’s not be angry at the players remember this is all on joe glazer and avram glazer for not letting him go in the summer I hope all sponsors pull away from the toxic club https://t.co/59jXOegPQK
— Glazers out (@Glazerspissoff)LETS GOOOOOOOO https://t.co/rnF4QSXX5b pic.twitter.com/CblwC0wusi
— hasan🏌️♂️ (@younghn3)Lesss Gooo https://t.co/PyAeIezUE0 pic.twitter.com/UsrGqc5nNh
— Abdul Salam (@_bienvenidos_)MY GAFFER !!! https://t.co/jllUmHnYp0 pic.twitter.com/vmdCxhmU91
— jo² (@4SEIJUR0)Thank you for your service. https://t.co/1ONzQ0MxIK pic.twitter.com/l7ClD10oLh
— Aneeq 🈳 (@Fugaziiii_)THIS IS A GODSEND https://t.co/8lkLn7RJ2Z pic.twitter.com/wfNWvk3Xj4
— Nxteee™ (@nate_gyamfi)Its finally over https://t.co/LM9pzFzuKE pic.twitter.com/LJmhJgmza8
— Adestrador🇧🇷 (@xandinxereca)