Erik ten Hag reveals when he knew Cristiano Ronaldo's career came to an end

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has divulged the moment he believed Cristiano Ronaldo's professional career began to decline, citing the Portuguese star's departure from Real Madrid in 2018. During an interview with ESPN, the Dutchman reminisced about Ronaldo's time at Old Trafford and acknowledged him as one of football's elite players, yet suggested his peak years were already behind him.

Ten Hag affirmed Ronaldo's outstanding achievements but emphasized that his capacity to perform at the highest level had significantly diminished since leaving Real Madrid. "He is, of course, a tremendous player, one of the all-time greats. 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 stated. The ex-United boss, now serving as technical director at FC Twente, also commended Real Madrid for their discernment in recognizing when standout players approach the end of their prime. Ten Hag noted that the Spanish club consistently demonstrated astute judgment by permitting players to depart when the appropriate time arrived, rather than waiting for their performances to deteriorate further.

"And that is actually the great gift of Real Madrid: they always know when to say goodbye to players at the right moment," he added. Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer of 2018, securing four Champions League titles during his tenure in Italy. He later rejoined Manchester United in 2021, registering 27 goals in 54 appearances for his second stint at Old Trafford.

However, his return to the Premier League behemoth ultimately concluded in controversy, with tensions between Ronaldo and Ten Hag escalating during the 2022-23 season. In November 2022, Ronaldo accused the Dutch manager of betraying him in an explosive interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, leading to the termination of Ronaldo's Manchester United contract and his subsequent move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.

Despite the challenging ending to his second Manchester United chapter, Ronaldo has maintained his professional career in Saudi Arabia, while Ten Hag's latest remarks have reignited debates about when the football superstar first experienced a decline in his performances.