Former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia has admitted to being ‘hurt’ by the way Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Old Trafford ended.
Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a sensational return to Manchester United in the summer of 2021. The Portuguese attacker rejoined the Red Devils on a two-year contract with an option for a further year.
But Cristiano Ronaldo’s stay at Manchester United was cut short after the Red Devils terminated his contract by mutual consent in November this year. The decision to part ways by mutual consent came after Ronaldo sat down for an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
The 37-year-old Portuguese icon criticized the Glazer family, owners of Manchester United, and Erik ten Hag, the club’s manager, among many others in the interview with Morgan. Manchester United later terminated Ronaldo’s contract with the club by mutual consent, ending his second spell at the Premier League club.
Read More: Portugal and Fernando Santos part ways after 2022 FIFA World Cup exit
“I felt really bad about the way he left the club” – Antonio Valencia on Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Man Utd
Writing for The Athletic, former Manchester United captain Antonio Valencia admitted he was hurt by the way Cristiano Ronaldo and the Old Trafford team parted ways.
Antonio Valencia believes that Ronaldo deserved to say goodbye to Manchester United ‘leaving the pitch to applause in a sold-out stadium’.
“It was a shame Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United the way he did,” Antonio Valencia wrote. “A player like him should leave a club walking off the pitch to applause in a sold-out stadium. The people there loved him.
“The interview you gave recently was unfortunate. He will have his reasons for saying what he said, but I felt very bad for the way he left the club.
“It hurts. I hope everything goes well for him at his new club. I only wish Ronaldo the best.”
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is currently a free agent. He has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Reports claim that Al-Nassr has made a gigantic contract offer to the Portuguese superstar.
However, Al-Nassr president Musalli Al Muammar recently played down suggestions that they held talks with Ronaldo during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo: Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia admits he would be delighted to coach the Portuguese superstar
