Wayne Rooney confesses that Cristiano Ronaldo achieved his desired outcome by leaving Manchester United, but affirms that the Portuguese still holds the status of a legendary figure at the club.
In November 2022, the five-time Ballon d’Or recipient cut off his association with the Red Devils after criticizing a few important figures from the club’s past and present during a fiery interview.
Ronaldo left Manchester United after an interview with Pierce Morgan
Rooney acknowledges that the 38-year-old, who is currently with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was fully aware of his actions and left United with no other option but to terminate his contract and shift towards a new direction.
He said: “I suppose he got what he wanted. For Manchester United, it was important to move on as quick as possible from that and really refocus on the group of players who were there and wanted to be there.
“And I think that’s where [Erik] ten Hag has done a really good job in refocusing the players and getting them in a position where they are, obviously, comfortably in the top four, and also winning the [Carabao] Cup.”
Some have implied that Ronaldo has damaged his reputation among United fans due to his behavior in his second stint in England, but Rooney maintains that his ex-colleague is still regarded as a revered figure in Manchester.
The English legend added: “No, I think what he’s done for Manchester United is great. And he’s won Premier League titles, won the Champions League, scored many goals.
“So I think certainly for the fans and certainly for the players, his former team-mates who played with him from my time especially, we’ll never forget what he did for Manchester United.
“Because in my eyes, he’ll always be a club legend and it’s a shame the way it ended of course this time round. But I don’t think that takes anything away from his legacy at the club.”
