Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United have mutually agreed for the player to leave the club with immediate effect, thereby bringing to an early end his contract with the club.
In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, Manchester United announced the development, thanking Ronaldo for his contributions and wishing him well in his future endeavors.
The statement read: "Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances and wishes him and his family well for the future.
"Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch."
Ronaldo responded by stating, "Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.
"I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.
"I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and the future."
Last week there were reports that United's lawyers were looking at ways to end Ronaldo's time at the club following his interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV which was aired last Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the interview that many considered explosive the Portugal captain said he felt betrayed by Man United.
Ronaldo criticized Man United manager Erik ten Hag, saying he had "no respect" for the manager and alleged that two senior figures at Old Trafford treated him with suspicion when he disclosed that his daughter Bella was sick with bronchitis, three months after the death of her twin brother.
The club’s owners, the Red Devils youngsters, and several of his former Man United teammates like Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville were also not spared of Ronaldo's criticisms.
Cristiano Ronaldo: "I don't have to worry about what others think."
Earlier, Ronaldo refused to apologize for criticizing Manchester United insisting that he did not believe that the interview would negatively affect Portugal's World Cup campaign, FanNation Futbol reported.
During his surprise appearance at a press conference in Qatar on Monday, the 37-year-old Ronaldo said he was not worried about what people think. "Timing is always timing, he said.
"From your side, it is easy to look at how we can choose timings. Sometimes you write truths, and sometimes you write lies. I don't have to worry about what others think.
"I'm convinced this won't have any influence on the team. Every player, manager, president, and kit man, they all know who I am. They won't be influenced by what people say or write."
He added: "I talk when I want to. Everybody knows who I am, what I believe in."
Cristiano Ronaldo had been silent all season but finally decided to grant an interview to his journalist friend, Piers Morgan.
He had earlier said that he would speak on life at Old Trafford at the appropriate time.
Ronaldo is right to feel humiliated says Futre.
Former Portugal International, Paulo Futre defended Ronaldo and criticized Manchester United for humiliating the player.
Image:Daily Post
Speaking to Mais Futebol, Futre insisted that it is humiliating to ask a footballer of Ronaldo's standing to enter the pitch with two minutes to the end of a game.
"Never seen a coach tell Cristiano Ronaldo to enter with two minutes to go. This is creating a conflict, it is a lack of respect. More than disrespect, it is a humiliation,” Futre told Mais Futebol.
“He has got five Golden Balls [Ballon d’Ors]; he can never get in with two minutes left. Normal players can enter two minutes away.
"Whoever does this to a player who has five Golden Balls is humiliating him. A player like Ronaldo can’t be humiliated. This leads to a number of problems,” Futre said.
Ronald is currently in Qatar as part of Portugal's squad for the FIFA World Cup.
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