Manchester United’s pre-season began on July 4 and Ronaldo did not report to the training ground with the rest of the international players citing family reasons – which he later on revealed as Bella’s illness.
Speaking in an exclusive 90-minute interview with Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo claimed he had been “betrayed” by the club’s manager Erik ten Hag and some senior executives.
The 37-year-old said senior Manchester United officials “didn’t believe” him when he told them he could not attend pre-season training because his daughter was sick.
Ronaldo’s daughter Bella contracted bronchitis in July – just three months after her twin brother had died shortly after birth.
“I spoke with the directive and the president of Manchester United and they kind of didn’t believe that something was going wrong, which made me feel bad,” he said.
“They believed it but in the same way they are (shaking his head) … I’m never going to change the health of my family for football, never. Now or ten years behind or forward.”
He laid bare his heart and said,
“It’s something that really hurt me because the doubt of my word that I was struggling, especially Bella and Geo (Ronaldo’s girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez),” he said.
“We had one week in hospital because Belle had a big problem and I didn’t go to the pre-season because of that. I think it was not fair to leave my family for a pre-season, this is why I did not go.”
“They didn’t believe that something was going wrong.”
Ronaldo was granted additional time to deal with the family issue and missed the Red Devils’ tour.
The five time Ballon D’or winner’s return to Manchester United after 12 years at Real Madrid and Juventus has not been smooth sailing as the club struggled for results, sacked a manager and missed qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
