Ten Hag says Ronaldo's peak ended at Juventus

Erik ten Hag has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s time as a world-class forward effectively ended in 2018, seven or eight years before his recent comments. The former Manchester United manager made the assessment in a new interview with ESPN, stating that the Portuguese star was unable to sustain the physical demands of elite football after leaving Real Madrid for Juventus.

Ten Hag, who managed United from the summer of 2022 until his dismissal in October 2024, reiterated criticisms he first voiced last month to The Athletic. He described the relationship with Ronaldo, who returned to Old Trafford in 2021, as one where the striker did not adapt to the tactical requirements of the team. Ronaldo’s contract was terminated in November 2022 following a dispute with the club, after which the player moved to Saudi Arabia.

According to Ten Hag, the core issue was Ronaldo’s fitness levels and preparation. "He was not capable to do this," Ten Hag said regarding the expectation that Ronaldo would press the ball. "It’s the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he’s exhausted. But he couldn’t. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn’t prepare himself."

The manager noted that while top teams must accommodate their best players, those players must also contribute to the collective effort. Ten Hag recalled Ronaldo telling teammates to "save your legs at the training," a tactic he said is only valid if a player is already in peak physical condition. "First you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels," Ten Hag explained.

In the latest interview, Ten Hag argued that Ronaldo could still finish chances but lacked the stamina to reach the penalty area consistently. "If you aren’t fit in the Premier League, you stand no chance," he said. He concluded that the decision to maintain that level of investment was always up to the player. "If you don’t want to, I have to make other choices in the interest of the club. We have seen that."

Ten Hag added that Ronaldo remains among the greats of the game globally. However, he maintained that the reality on the pitch changed after the 2018 move to Italy. "From Juventus onwards, it was simply over," Ten Hag said, citing the player's inability to "torture himself" or give his all every day to stay fit.