Cristiano Ronaldo Considered Retirement After 'Difficult' Manchester United Exit
Cristiano Ronaldo told reporters on Wednesday that he contemplated retirement after his contentious exit from Manchester United this season.
"It was all in the balance after the World Cup," he said regarding the possibility of retiring after Portugal's stint in the World Cup over the winter. "I reflected with my family, and then we came to the conclusion that it was not time to throw in the towel. I learned a lot from it, and I'm very happy to be back. ... I feel that I still have a lot to give, and I want to keep it going."
Ronaldo, who is currently with Portugal for Euro 2024 qualifiers during the current international break, ended up making the move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in January.
But not before he went scorched earth on Manchester United.
In a lengthy interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo threw several Manchester United managers and the team's ownership under the bus. It was what appeared to be the final of several attempts to sabotage his relationship with the club and force a move away from Old Trafford, and the bombshell interview worked, as the club shortly thereafter terminated his contract.
It was believed that Ronaldo had been hoping to secure another season in the Champions League by forcing away from United. But when those clubs didn't come calling, he ultimately settled on a major payday with Al Nassr.
Ronaldo's relationship with Portugal was also complicated after he was benched during the knockout stage of the World Cup. But that apparently is water under the bridge for the 38-year-old forward.
The fact that Fernando Santosโthe manager who benched himโparted ways with the country probably helped the healing process. Roberto Martinez is now serving in that role.
"It's a new chapter for everyone, for the players, the staff and the country," Ronaldo told reporters. "We feel good energy. It's a breath of fresh air. I'm not saying that it's better or worse than before, but sometimes in life, changes are positive. There are new ideas, a new mindset. You can notice it. You can feel the change, and that is good for everyone."
Suffice to say, it's been a year of change for Ronaldo at both the club and country level.
