Cristiano Ronaldo interview with Piers Morgan: Live updates, reaction and Manchester United fallout

Hello and welcome to The Athletic's live blog of Piers Morgan's interview with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo. News of Morgan's interview with the 37-year-old has already taken the football world by storm, with Ronaldo looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit doors at Old Trafford.
Michael Dominski
Cristiano Ronaldo interview with Piers Morgan: Live updates, reaction and Manchester United fallout

Summary

Hello and welcome to The Athletic's live blog of Piers Morgan's interview with Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

News of Morgan's interview with the 37-year-old has already taken the football world by storm, with Ronaldo looking increasingly likely to be heading for the exit doors at Old Trafford.

With the full interview yet to be released, we are expected to hear more from Ronaldo in the two-part special on TalkTV.

Follow here for live updates on what Ronaldo has to say tonight.

Background reading: Cristiano Ronaldo fallout: Everything we know – and what happens next

(Photo: Getty Images)

That's all for tonight!

Thanks for following along with our live coverage!

We'll be back at the same time tomorrow for the second half of Cristiano Ronaldo's interview!

GO FURTHER

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The support Ronaldo received after the death of his son

One of the least controversial things Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about in today's interview was the fantastic support he received across England after the death of his son, including from the Royal Family as well as from opposing fans.

He specifically cited this moment from April 19 of this year, when Liverpool fans at Anfield applauded Ronaldo in the seventh minute of their match against United:

What to expect tomorrow

The second half of Cristiano Ronaldo's interview is due to air tomorrow, and here are a few of the topics we know will be touched on:

  • Ronaldo's claim that Manchester United executives didn't believe his daughter was sick
  • Feeling betrayed by United
  • The Glazers' leadership of the club
  • Lionel Messi
  • The World Cup

How do United move on from this?

Just three days ago, Bruno Fernandes was celebrating Manchester United's team spirit after their late win over Fulham.

The Premier League resumes on Boxing Day, prior to the opening of the January transfer window.

If Cristiano Ronaldo is still a Manchester United player at that time, how will he be received by his team-mates? Or Erik ten Hag?

How to watch tonight's interview

The portion of the interview that just aired can be watched in full on YouTube.

Lineker: 'Can't see Ronaldo at United for long'

Gary Lineker has given his take on Twitter:

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Ronaldo claims United didn't change in the years he was gone

It's hard to see a way back for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United after these criticisms:

“To be honest, when I signed for Manchester United, I thought everything was changed because it's 13 years... I was in Real Madrid nine years and three in Juventus. And when I arrived, I thought everything will be different, you know, the technology, the infrastructures and everything. But I was surprised, in a bad way, let's say in that way because I saw everything was the same.

“At United, the progress was zero, in my opinion. To compare with Real Madrid and even Juventus, that they follow the rest of the world, so the technology, especially in terms of training, nutrition and conditions of, eat properly and to recover better than before - surprised me. Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it's behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level.

“I don't know what's going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero.”

Well then!

We knew Cristiano Ronaldo had criticised the leadership of Manchester United in this interview, but it's worth taking another look at the harshest criticisms he's lobbed at the club. It's hard not to wonder whether he's played his final game for United.

Ronaldo said the club didn't know what they were doing when they hired Ralf Rangnick: “No, they don't. They knew with the club, very well. But they don't know the main dimension of the club inside, the history of the club. Which is, for me, surprised me even more. Which is when you sack Ole Solskjaer, you should bring a top manager, not a Sports Director.”

"The new coaches that are coming around, they think they find the last Coca-Cola in the desert."

Tonight's portion of the interview has concluded

Tonight's portion of the interview has concluded

Quite a lot to unpack!

(Photo: TalkTV)

On the criticism he’s faced at Manchester United

“And I'm used to live like that because, you know, I was 37, I know and I learned many things. When you are at the down of the wave, when you are at the top of the wave, you don't realise and you don't see things that you don't see before…Which is, I appreciate to have bad moments, to see which people are on your side, who will criticise you more. Because they're looking for that. They don't like to see successful people.

“The people only try to bring negativity. And I felt the last four or five months that, not only for me, but even for my family as well, for Georgina, especially around the world, the press criticise me even more. Sometimes I don't understand why.”

“But I still believe that the jealousy is part of that. They want to cover many things that helps to shine other things. But listen, I know I'm 21 years in the top of the game, so I know all the takes, so for me it's not a problem. It's hard when you are a little bit down to listen to this criticism.”

He said he does not read the negative press coverage, claiming it is “garbage” and “hard to deal with”.

“I care for the people who like me. I'm not wasting time, for the people who don't like me. I think it's a waste of time, these people are not interesting in my life.”

Ronaldo went on to talk at more length about Wayne Rooney. He said one minute Rooney was inviting his son round to his house to play football and the next he was taking aim at him in the press.

“I don’t understand. I don’t know why he criticises me. Probably (he is jealous) because he finished his career in his 30s and I am still playing. And I won’t say I am better looking than him, although that is true.”

“I really don't understand people like that. Or if they want to be in a cover of the paper of the news, or they want new jobs or whatever.”

On whether he will get married

“I'm not thinking now about that but I can see in the future. I think I deserve, she deserves, but it's something that's not coming now in my plans but in the future, yes, I want."

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On returning to the field after the tragic loss of his son

“Very difficult to play after that. But as I always have good support from my family. And Georgina told me ‘Go, go to play, go enjoy to do what you'd like to do.’ It’s going to help for you to forget a little bit, the situation. It was difficult, but at the same point that thing helps for you to, you know, to not think too much about that even though training was good. But as you know, the football going so fast and you know trainings, games, even the national team, the things going so fast you don't even have time to settle and say what's going on, you know, because the things are going so fast. But it was good help, Georgina helped me a lot to give me that stability.”

“We help each other. But she struggled when she was young, which is, she now, she'll look at life with a different eyes, even though she's young, but she's suffered. She was born in Argentina, she has issues with her family as well, she lived alone. She has an interesting life and history as well... And she helped me a lot. She's very mature for this age, we help each other sometimes when I'm a little bit down she pushes me up and I do it the other side. So we are a nice couple and we help each other so I'm really pleased that she's on my side.”

On whether he is planning on having more children

“I'm not thinking now, to thinking more kids, I think we are done but we never know the future only God know. But right now we all want to have a break to enjoy these ones because they are little… we want to enjoy a little bit of these ones. Let's see in the future.”

On being supported in his grief by opposing fans, the British people, and the Royal Family

“I never, ever expect that. Never. I have the opportunity now to say, all English community, thank you a lot for that, (it) kind of helped with me…

“I received a letter from The Queen’s family as well … And, surprised me a lot… This is why I say, I respect a lot, the English community, English people, because they've been very kind with me. And in that difficult moment of my life… (the support) was spectacular. The way they treat me, me and my family in that difficult moment, I should say straight to the camera thank you, ‘Thank you, to the all English community that helped me in that moment’.”

Feeling his son's spirit with him

“For sure, for sure. His ashes is with me, like my Daddy, they are here in the house…Yes is something that I want to hold for the rest of my life and not throw to the ocean or to the sea. I keep with me. They are next to my dad… I have a small church … Yes, chapel. And I keep my daddy and my son (there).

“I talk with them every time and they are by my side. You know they helped me to be a better man, to be a better person, to be a better father. I am really proud of the message they send me, especially my son.”

On how the intense pressure of losing a baby had affected his relationship with his partner

“In my case it was more, (it) was better in that way. I became more friendly of Gio, I was of course a friend, but I seem more lovely for her and for my kids and I start to see the life with a different perspective... It was the most difficult moments, the last six months, since my dad died, it was this moment that I passed through the last six months.”

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On the death of his son

"Probably the worst moment in my life since my father died...We don't understand why it happened to us. It was very difficult."

“In the beginning, (his partner) Gio are arriving home and the kids start to say where's the other baby? Where's the other baby?

“Of course Cristiano (his eldest son), I had a conversation with him in the day, because he's 12 years old, he knows, understands everything, and I had a nice conversation with him. We cried together in his bedroom and explained and it's kind of - he doesn't understand, he does understand, but in same way he was a little bit confused.

“The other ones in the beginning, on the table, the kids start to say “Mom where is the other baby - and Gio in the beginning they start to say because, you know, she had a little bit of a belly because they had two, it's a hard process. And after one week I say, ‘Let's be up front and let's be honest with the kids, let's say that, Ángel, which is the name, they go to the Heaven’.

“It's better to say in that way and we start to use that in that way. And the kids always understand, when we had shouts in at the table and they say ‘daddy I did this for Ángel’ and they point out for the, for the sky… I like it the most because, you know it's part of their lives and I am not gonna lie to my kids to say the true, which is it was a difficult process but in the same way, I become more more father, more friendly with them; they become more close to their Daddy especially me with Georgina as well.”

Ronaldo: I don't give younger players advice

“I’m not the kind of guy who likes to give advice as I prefer to be an example.

“Because I'm an example. I'm there every morning and do the same stuff. I'm probably the first one to arrive and the last one to go out. I think the details speak for itself. If you give advice, in a minute they forget it and do whatever they want. This is why I say, I like to lead by example.”

Ronaldo: Younger players don't listen

“All leagues in the world, the youngest now, they are not the same as my generation. It's easier for them, they don't suffer. But we cannot blame them because, it's part of the life, you know. The new generation and the new technologies that avoid, they distract them for another thing so… But they are not the same that, they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side.

“So, it don't surprise me. But in the same way it's a little bit shame because if they have the best examples in front of your eyes, and if they don't at least copy what you did, for me, it's kind of weird, because I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I'm always looked to see the best players when Van Nistelrooy, Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Giggs - this is why I have the success that I have and longevity. Because I take care of my body, my mentality, my head, because I see these guys and I learn from them.”

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