Here are the key topics and points discussed in the interview:
Reason for the Interview
Cristiano Ronaldo explains why he agreed to this interview.
- Time to Speak: He feels it's the right moment to share his perspective.
- Appreciation for the Interviewer: He has a personal liking for Piers Morgan.
- Setting the Record Straight: Acknowledges the significant criticism he's faced recently and wishes to clarify matters, especially for Manchester United fans.
Fans
Ronaldo expresses his deep respect and admiration for the fans.
- Most Important: Considers fans to be the most crucial element in football.
- Source of Support: Feels their appreciation when recognized on the street.
- Motivation: "Viva Ronaldo" chants are very important to him.
Return to Manchester United
The circumstances surrounding his return to Manchester United are discussed, including a near-transfer to Manchester City.
- Manchester City Interest: It was very close to happening, with discussions taking place.
- Heart and History: His emotional connection and history with Manchester United, alongside the influence of Sir Alex Ferguson, ultimately led him to choose United.
- Conscious Decision: He made a deliberate choice based on his feelings for Manchester United.
- No Regrets: He does not regret his decision to return to United.
- Sir Alex Ferguson's Influence: Sir Alex was a key figure who advised against joining Manchester City.
Dream Comeback
His sensational return to Old Trafford and initial success are revisited.
- Memorable Debut: The return match against Newcastle, scoring twice, was an "amazing" and "unbelievable" experience.
- Welcome: Considered the best welcome he could have received.
- Record-Breaking Reception: He broke records for shirt sales and social media engagement upon re-signing.
- Surprising Speed of Return: The rapid nature of his transfer back to United surprised even him, as it happened quickly and wasn't initially in the plans.
Manchester United's State of Play
Ronaldo shares his observations about the club's infrastructure and direction.
- Surprise at Lack of Change: Expected significant technological and infrastructural advancements after 13 years but found them largely the same as when he first left.
- Instability: Witnessed instability, including the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
- Stagnation: Felt the club had "stopped on the clock" in terms of progress.
- Comparison to Other Clubs: Contrasted United's lack of progress with the continuous development at Real Madrid and Juventus.
- Infrastructure Issues: Noted that facilities like the pool, saunas, gym, and even the kitchen hadn't changed.
- Zero Progress: Believes Manchester United has made "zero" progress in terms of infrastructure and technology compared to other top clubs.
- Structure vs. Manager: Suggests that the club's structural issues, rather than just the managers, have contributed to a lack of success.
- David Gill's Absence: Misses David Gill, who he believed was a crucial part of the club's successful structure under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Managerial Appointments
Ronaldo expresses confusion and disappointment regarding certain managerial decisions.
- Ralf Rangnick Appointment: Found the appointment of Rangnick as a "sport directive" (likely meaning interim manager or similar role) to be a "ridiculous decision," questioning how someone not a coach could lead Manchester United.
- Lack of Understanding: Felt Rangnick invented football concepts and disagreed with his approach.
- Difference in Approach: Prefers working with experienced, top-tier managers like Zidane, Ancelotti, and Mourinho.
Player Mentality and Development
He discusses the differences he observes in younger players compared to his generation.
- Different Era: Acknowledges that younger players live in a different era with different mentalities.
- Lack of Suffering: Believes they "don't suffer" and have things too easily, leading to a perceived lack of care.
- Influence of Technology: New technologies can distract them.
- Lead by Example: Prefers to lead by example rather than giving direct advice, as younger players tend to forget quickly.
- Lack of Admiration: Expresses surprise that most young players don't seem to observe and learn from experienced players.
- Longevity: Predicts shorter careers for this generation due to a lack of dedication and work ethic.
- Admirable Players: Praises Diogo Dalot for his professionalism and intelligence.
Personal Tragedy
Ronaldo opens up about the profound grief of losing his newborn son.
- Worst Moment: Describes it as the worst moment of his life since his father's death.
- Difficult to Understand: He and Georgina struggled to comprehend why it happened.
- Impact on Family: The experience was extremely tough for him and especially for Georgina.
- Balancing Grief and Joy: Expresses the complex emotion of feeling both immense sadness and happiness simultaneously due to the birth of their daughter, Bella.
- Explaining to Children: Had difficult conversations with his children, explaining that their brother had gone to heaven.
- Strengthening Family Bonds: The tragedy brought him and Georgina closer and provided a new perspective on life.
- Son's Spirit: Feels his son's spirit is with him, kept in a chapel at home alongside his father.
Support and Condolences
The overwhelming support he received from the football community and beyond after his tragedy is highlighted.
- English Community's Kindness: Expresses immense gratitude to the English community for their kindness and support.
- Liverpool's Gesture: Was particularly touched by Liverpool fans singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at Anfield.
- Royal Condolences: Received a letter from the Queen's family offering condolences.
- Respect for English People: Values the respectful and kind treatment he and his family received.
The immense difficulty of returning to play professional football after such a personal loss.
- Emotional Support: Relied heavily on his family, particularly Georgina, for encouragement to return to training and playing.
- Distraction: The fast-paced nature of football offered a distraction from his grief.
- Georgina's Strength: Describes Georgina as an incredibly strong woman who has also faced significant life challenges.
- Mutual Support: Emphasizes their strong partnership, where they support each other through difficult times.
Ronaldo addresses the constant criticism he faces and his relationship with the media.
- Easy Target: Feels it's easy for the press to target him to sell stories and divert attention.
- Used to Criticism: Has learned to deal with it over his career.
- Jealousy and Negativity: Believes some criticism stems from jealousy and a desire to spread negativity.
- Press as "Garbage": States that 90% of the press lies and is "garbage," aiming to make him and his family feel bad.
- Professionalism Doubted: Finds it insulting that his professionalism is questioned, especially after a long career at the top.
- Felt Betrayed: Believes certain individuals at the club and within the press have tried to force him out.
He acknowledges his immense power and reach on social media.
- Most Followed Person: Recognizes his status as the most followed person on Instagram.
- Charisma and Connection: Believes his charisma and ability to connect with people are key to his popularity.
- Power of Content: A viral clip of him complimenting someone's abs garnered millions of views, illustrating his social media impact.
Ronaldo discusses the differing opinions of his former colleagues.
- Wayne Rooney: Expresses confusion and disbelief at Rooney's public criticism, especially given their past friendship. Suspects jealousy or a desire for media attention.
- Gary Neville: Believes former teammates like Neville don't see the "big picture" or fully understand his perspective.
- Supportive Colleagues: Appreciates the consistent support from players like Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane.
- Disappointment: Finds it disappointing to hear negative comments from people he played with.
Ronaldo views modern football as increasingly transactional.
- Players as Commodities: Feels players are treated as "pieces of meat," valued when useful and discarded when not.
- Disappointment with Trends: Has seen disappointing changes in the game, though his passion remains.
- Individualism: Notes a shift towards more individualistic behavior in the sport.
Manchester United's Ownership (The Glazers)
He shares his perspective on the club's owners and their impact.
- Fans Are Right: Agrees with the fans' negative sentiment towards the Glazers, believing they should know the truth.
- Lack of Investment: Suggests the ownership's focus on marketing over sporting investment hinders the club's progress.
- Need for Change: Believes the club's structure needs a complete overhaul to compete with top teams.
- No Direct Contact: Has never spoken to the Glazers directly since his return.
Relationship with Erik ten Hag
Ronaldo details his strained relationship with the Manchester United manager.
- Lack of Empathy: States there is a lack of empathy and a poor relationship with Ten Hag.
- Disrespect: Feels Ten Hag doesn't show him the respect he deserves.
- Excuses: Views Ten Hag's explanations for his decisions as "excuses."
- Provocation: Believes Ten Hag deliberately provoked him by not playing him and offering minimal game time.
- Feeling Betrayed: Felt betrayed by Ten Hag and other senior figures at the club who he believes wanted him gone.
- Strategy to Force Him Out: Suspects a deliberate strategy by the club to make him react negatively and leave.
Leaving Manchester United
The possibility of his departure from Manchester United is discussed.
- Focus on World Cup: His immediate priority is the World Cup.
- Uncertain Future: Admits he doesn't know what will happen after the World Cup.
- Emotional Decision: His return to United might have been more emotional than rational.
- Potential New Chapter: Suggests a "new chapter" might be good for both him and the club.
- Fans' Love: Assures fans they will always be in his heart, regardless of his future.
Offers from Other Clubs
Ronaldo confirms receiving significant offers, refuting claims he had no options.
- Saudi Arabia Offer: Confirms a €350 million offer from Saudi Arabia for a two-season contract.
- Refusal of Offers: Turned down offers because he was happy and motivated at Manchester United and believed he could still perform at the highest level.
- Misinformation: Criticizes the press for spreading "garbage" and false information about his lack of offers.
- Still Desired: Highlights his continued value by pointing to his record-breaking salary and international goal-scoring record.
World Cup Aspirations
He discusses his hopes and expectations for the upcoming World Cup with Portugal.
- Fifth and Last World Cup: Believes this will likely be his final World Cup.
- Optimistic: Confident in Portugal's strong team and coaching staff.
- Dream Scenario: Fantasizes about winning the World Cup with a hat-trick in the final against Argentina.
- Rivalries: Identifies France, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Brazil, and England as strong contenders.
- Playing in Winter: Unconcerned about the tournament's timing.
- Politics and Morality: Believes political and moral debates should have been addressed before awarding the tournament to Qatar.
Relationship with Lionel Messi
Ronaldo speaks respectfully about his long-standing rival.
- Amazing Player: Considers Messi a "magic" and "top" player.
- Mutual Respect: Shares a great relationship built on 16 years of competing at the highest level.
- Respectful Interactions: Notes that their families also show respect for each other.
- Teammate-like Bond: Compares their relationship to that of teammates, built on mutual respect.
- Dinner Invitation: Open to having dinner with Messi to share experiences.
Legacy and Future Plans
He contemplates his lasting impact and potential future endeavors.
- Playing Duration: Aims to play for another two to three years, ideally until age 40.
- Inspiring Others: Wants to use his experience to inspire people, especially young individuals, on professionalism, longevity, and winning.
- Potential Book: Considering writing a book offering advice and sharing his life lessons.
- Post-Retirement Communication: Sees himself speaking to millions of people after retirement, sharing his knowledge.
Ronaldo shares his positive experiences meeting and learning from figures like Tom Brady and Jordan Peterson.
- Tom Brady: Had a productive conversation about life and football, receiving good energy.
- Jordan Peterson: Considers him a "huge fan" and "interesting guy," appreciating his strategic advice beyond football.
- Learning from Smart People: Values connecting with intelligent individuals who "think outside the box."
Legacy of Manchester United
He reiterates his love for the club and its fans.
- Fans Forever in His Heart: Assures fans they will always be in his heart, regardless of his future at the club.
- Hope for Change: Believes Manchester United needs significant structural changes to regain its former glory.
- Desire to Help: Remains willing to help the club if called upon.