Piers Morgan has come out swinging against Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, calling him a "complete idiot" for letting Cristiano Ronaldo leave Old Trafford.
In typical Morgan style, the broadcaster didn’t hold back when defending his favorite football superstar and rubbished claims that the Portuguese legend is "finished."
After a fallout between Ronaldo and Ten Hag early in the 2022/23 season, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner parted ways with United, becoming a free agent.
Many critics claimed Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia was proof that his best days were behind him. However, Morgan believes those claims are nonsense.
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Morgan believes Ronaldo still has it
Morgan, never shy to defend Ronaldo, told talkSPORT, “The idea that anyone thinks after watching the last two Portugal games that Ronaldo is finished is bulls**t.”
Ronaldo, who has now reached 900 career goals, continues to show why he’s considered one of the greatest ever. Despite a disappointing Euros campaign, Morgan feels Ronaldo wasn’t given the right service, adding, “He remains one of the most lethal finishers in world football.”
In true Morgan fashion, he didn’t just stop at defending Ronaldo’s performances. He also took aim at Ten Hag, saying, “Ten Hag is everything Ronaldo told me he was — a bossy school teacher who can’t handle top players.”
Morgan’s tirade didn’t end there. He pointed out how United has struggled since Ronaldo’s departure, suggesting that if the Portuguese star had stayed, the club would be in a much better position.
"Look at the strikers they have now compared to Ronaldo. The guy is the greatest to ever play the game. He’ll get to 1,000 goals before he hangs up his boots," Morgan declared.
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Pioli to Al-Nassr?
On the other side of the globe, Ronaldo’s current club Al-Nassr are reportedly eyeing Stefano Pioli as their next manager. Pioli was close to joining Al-Ittihad, but after talks broke down, Al-Nassr are looking to swoop in. With Al-Nassr’s recent struggles, current manager Luis Castro might be on his way out, and Pioli could be the man to lead Ronaldo’s team in the Saudi Pro League.
Pioli’s potential move would also lighten the financial load on AC Milan, where he’s still contracted until 2025. If he takes the Al-Nassr job, it could be a win-win for all involved – except maybe for Ten Hag, who is still dealing with the aftermath of letting Ronaldo go.
As for Ronaldo, one thing’s for sure: whether it’s breaking records or proving his critics wrong, he’s far from finished.
