‘He’s special but wasn’t playing’: Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Portugal captain reacts to his Manchester United ouster

Noises from Cristiano Ronaldo’s rather chaotic departure from Manchester United continues to rumble in the background of the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup. United announced on Tuesday that the Portugal great has left the club by “mutual agreement” as part of the fallout from his explosive interview in which he criticised the club’s hierarchy apart from manager Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo is currently busy in the World Cup as captain of the Portuguese team and his former national team captain Luis Figo has said that the decision for him to leave the club is good for both parties. “After all the situations that came, I think it was the decision of both. A mutual agreement – I think is beneficial for both. For himself because he was not playing and for the club that feels that the player doesn’t want to stay,” said Figo on Sports 18.

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“He’s of course a special player, an important player but at the same time he was not playing, not being an option for the coach. After I think the interview – he was complaining about the club and the club decided with a mutual agreement to separate the destiny of both. Well, it’s like that – mutual agreement. Everyone’s happy,” said Figo.

It remains to be seen where Ronaldo will go from here. Figo said that the 37-year-old’s future will be dependent on what he wants in his career. “Well, I don’t know. I think it’s always a personal decision, depending on the goals he has, and the offers that are coming now. But this is a personal and sporting decision of his, depending on the clubs that want him,” he said.

Manchester United announced Ronaldo’s departure in a terse statement in a development that might bring an end for now to the dramatic sequence of events set off by his explosive television interview. Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect. The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future. Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch,” said the club