Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revealed when he believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s career at the highest level began to decline, pointing to the Portuguese forward’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018.
Speaking during an interview with ESPN, the Dutchman reflected on his experience working with Ronaldo at Manchester United and offered his assessment of the striker’s performances in the later stages of his career.
Although Ten Hag acknowledged Ronaldo’s status as one of football’s greatest players, he suggested the forward could no longer maintain his previous level from the time he left Real Madrid for Juventus.
“He is of course a tremendous player, one of the greats of all time. But that is also the reality, over the last seven, eight years, he can simply no longer deliver. From Juventus onwards, it’s simply over.”
Ten Hag, who currently serves as technical director at FC Twente, also praised Real Madrid for their ability to recognise when a player’s best years are behind them.
According to the Dutchman, the Spanish giants have developed a reputation for knowing the right time to part ways with established stars before their performances decline further.
“And that is actually the great gift of Real Madrid: they always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment.” Ten Hag, who currently serves as technical director at FC Twente, also praised Real Madrid for their ability to recognise when a player’s best years are behind them.
According to the Dutchman, the Spanish giants have developed a reputation for knowing the right time to part ways with established stars before their performances decline further.
“And that is actually the great gift of Real Madrid: they always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment.”
Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 and scored 101 goals in 134 appearances during his three-season spell with the Italian giants.He subsequently returned to Manchester United in 2021, finding the net 27 times in 54 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford.However, his relationship with Ten Hag deteriorated during the 2022-23 campaign, leading to a public disagreement between the two.
Ronaldo joined Juventus from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 and scored 101 goals in 134 appearances during his three-season spell with the Italian giants.
He subsequently returned to Manchester United in 2021, finding the net 27 times in 54 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford.
However, his relationship with Ten Hag deteriorated during the 2022-23 campaign, leading to a public disagreement between the two.
n November 2022, Ronaldo told broadcaster Piers Morgan that he felt ‘betrayed’ by the Manchester United manager.
The Portugal international eventually left the club after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract, paving the way for his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
