Cristiano Ronaldo Will Leave Manchester United By ‘Mutual Consent’

Topline

Manchester United announced Tuesday afternoon it has cut ties with forward Cristiano Ronaldo by “mutual consent,” following a dramatic falling-out between the legendary club and the soccer icon over explosive allegations Ronaldo made about management, claiming they “don’t care about the club.”

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United waves following the Premier League match between Manchester … [+] United and Brentford at Old Trafford, on May 2, 2022, in Manchester, England.

James Gill-Danehouse/Getty Images

Key Facts

Manchester United said in a statement that Ronaldo, 37, is departing with “immediate effect,” which makes him available to sign with another club.

Manchester United said Friday it had “initiated appropriate steps in response to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent media interview,” while multiple outlets reported the club was considering a lawsuit against Ronaldo for breach of contract over the comments.

Forbes Valuation

Ronaldo placed third on Forbes’ 2022 list of highest-paid athletes, with estimated earnings of $115 million per year—including $55 million in endorsements and other off-field income. Forbes estimates Manchester United is the third-most-valuable soccer club in the world, worth $4.6 billion, placing it behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid.

What To Watch For

Ronaldo is participating in the Qatar World Cup as Portugal’s captain. Portugal opens group stage play against Ghana on Thursday before facing Uruguay on Monday and South Korea on December 2.

Key Background

Ronaldo has had a rocky 15 months with the club since signing there in August 2021, clashing numerous times with teammates and coaches as the team failed to live up to lofty expectations, missing out on qualifying for this season’s UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo reportedly wanted to leave the club this summer before the start of the 2022-23 Premier League season, but reversed course at the end of July, tweeting, “Happy to be back,” along with a photo of himself in a Manchester United uniform. Results have improved somewhat in recent weeks after Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo as a regular member of the starting lineup, which hasn’t sat well with the Portuguese superstar. In a match last month against Tottenham Hotspur, Ronaldo left the bench area early and headed into the team locker room, appearing to have no interest in entering the game as a substitute.

Tangent

This was Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United after playing for the club from 2003-09, when he rose to international stardom. He played for Real Madrid from 2009-18 and Italian club Juventus from 2018-21.