Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag told ESPN NL on Sunday that Cristiano Ronaldo’s ability to perform in the Premier League declined after he left Juventus — a shift Ten Hag described as “simply over.”
Ten Hag made the remarks during an appearance on Goedemorgen Eredivisie. He now serves as technical director at Dutch club FC Twente.
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He said Ronaldo arrived late to preseason due to personal circumstances and never reached the fitness level required for the Premier League. Ten Hag added that Ronaldo could not push through discomfort or sustain peak effort in daily training — essential for competing at that level.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United after Juventus in 2021. He scored 27 goals in 54 appearances across two seasons — first under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then under Ten Hag.
Manchester United terminated Ronaldo’s contract in November 2022 after he criticized club leadership and accused Ten Hag of betrayal in a Piers Morgan interview.
Ten Hag called Ronaldo “a tremendous player” and “one of the greats,” but stressed that elite team football requires players to meet collective standards. “Every top team must embrace the top player, but the top player must yield to the team,” he said.
He contrasted Ronaldo’s United tenure with Lionel Messi’s role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory, calling Messi’s team-first approach “fantastic to see.” Ten Hag added: “No one is bigger than a club or a country.”
As of November 2, 2026, Ronaldo plays as a forward for Al Nassr. ESPN’s official data feeds list him as age 41.
Ten Hag was dismissed nine games into the 2023–24 season with Manchester United 14th in the Premier League. He called his time at the club “fantastic,” praising staff, fans, and memories including FA Cup and League Cup finals. “There’s no bitterness,” he said.
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