In their official program for Wednesday’s victory over Burnley in the Carabao Cup, Manchester United wrote a modest 81-word tribute to striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Following a TV interview with Piers Morgan in which he harshly criticized the club’s manager, Erik ten Hag, and owners, the Glazer family, Ronaldo and Old Trafford mutually agreed to end his contract.
United played their first match since Ronaldo’s departure after the World Cup break, defeating Championship opponents Burnley 2-0 to go to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals.
Ronaldo’s departure was mentioned in passing by the club in the “Worth Knowing” section of the matchday program, which read: “Cristiano Ronaldo left the club by mutual consent last month.”
“The Portuguese superstar contributed to our victories in the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup while scoring 145 goals over the course of two periods and 436 appearances. In 2008, Ronaldo also won the Ballon d’Or.” The club expressed its gratitude for Cristiano’s enormous contribution and best wishes to him and his family in a statement on November 22.
Ronaldo is now a free agent as he bids to make a return to club football. ESPN reported earlier this month that the 37-year-old trained alone at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground shortly after returning home from the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo was benched by coach Fernando Santos, and he was only used as a substitute in their quarterfinal games against Switzerland and Morocco.