Cristiano Ronaldo slammed Man Utd interim manager Ralf Rangnick (Pictures: Getty)
Ralf Rangnick has responded after Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he had ‘never even heard’ of him before he arrived at Manchester United as interim manager.
Rangnick was in charge of the Premier League giants for most of the 2021-22 season following his appointment in November.
The vastly experienced German took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was due to remain at Old Trafford for a further two years in a consultancy role.
New manager Erik ten Hag decided not to rely on Rangnick, however, and the 64-year-old left United by mutual consent, subsequently taking over the Austria national team.
Rangnick had managed several teams in Germany before his spell at Old Trafford but Ronaldo, speaking in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, claims he had ‘never heard’ of him.
‘After Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), they bring in sport director Ralf Rangnick, which is something nobody understands,’ Ronaldo, 37, said.
‘This guy is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United bringing in a sport director surprised not only me but all the world.
Rangnick was in charge of United for most of last season (Picture: Getty)
‘If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I’d never even heard of him.’
Asked about Ronaldo’s comments, Rangnick said on Tuesday: ‘I’m the team boss of Austria’s national team, it’s not my job to judge that. It’s the job of Manchester United and the sports journalists there.’
Rangnick was not the only recipient of Ronaldo’s wrath. The Portugal legend said he felt ‘betrayed’ by Manchester United and does not respect current manager Ten Hag.
Ronaldo, who has only scored one Premier League goal this season, also took aim at Old Trafford legends Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville for daring to criticise him.
More to follow…
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Ronaldo was not Rangnick’s biggest fan.
