Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has asserted that Cristiano Ronaldo's top-tier career had concluded by the time he moved to Juventus and subsequently returned to Old Trafford.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Ten Hag elaborated on his previous criticisms of the Portuguese star, stating that while Ronaldo is a great player, he had not been delivering at an elite level for years.
"Let there be no misunderstanding on my part, he is of course a great player. He belongs among the greats of the world," Ten Hag said. "But the reality is also that he hasn't been able to deliver for the last seven or eight years. From Juventus onwards, it was simply over."
Ten Hag suggested that successful clubs must allow top players to make way for the team, a move he felt Ronaldo was unwilling to make. He praised Real Madrid for their handling of Ronaldo's departure, noting that they sold him when he appeared to be at his peak but was beginning to decline.
"That is also Real Madrid's great gift," he added. "They see when a player is declining in level. Then they part ways at a moment when, to the outside world, they are still at their peak, but actually can no longer deliver."
Ronaldo's second tenure at Manchester United ended acrimoniously in January 2023 after he made critical remarks about the club and Ten Hag in an interview. He then joined Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Ten Hag himself was sacked by Manchester United in October 2024 following a disappointing season. His departure came after the club finished eighth in the Premier League, though an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City had initially earned him a contract extension. He later took charge of Bayer Leverkusen but was dismissed after just three games.
The former United manager had previously spoken to The Athletic, criticizing the club's hierarchy for broken promises regarding recruitment and a lack of ambition in the transfer market, contributing to what he described as a "toxic culture."
During his time at Manchester United, Ten Hag brought in players such as Lisandro Martinez and he was succeeded by Michael Carrick, who was given a chance to improve the team's performance after a series of poor results.