Richard Keys has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo was wrong to do his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan, suggesting it was ‘badly timed’. The Portugal captain was highly critical of Manchester United and Erik ten Hag during the 90-minute long conversation and left the club by mutual consent in the aftermath, on the eve of the World Cup getting underway.
Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford turned sour after the 37-year-old fell out with new United boss Ten Hag. The footballing superstar was involved in several controversial moments over the course of the season with his refusal to come on as a late substitute in the 2-0 win against Tottenham the most notable.
The Portuguese star decided to speak on the issues he had experienced at United with a no holds barred interview with Morgan. Ronaldo was critical of many aspects of the club including Ten Hag and the owners the Glazers while he also spoke of his unhappiness about the criticism he had received from former team mates including Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
He left the club by mutual consent following the interview with the decision announced last Tuesday ahead of Portugal getting their World Cup campaign underway. Now Keys has told Morgan he felt Ronaldo was wrong to do the interview with him as it came at a bad time.
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“No, not at this time of his career,” the former Sky Sports presenter said when asked by the Talk TV on his show Piers Morgan Uncensored if he thought the interview was the right thing to do. “I thought it was badly timed. I didn’t think he needed to volunteer for the aggravation that it has brought him.
“Were I you, I would’ve said to him, ‘Listen I’m very, very keen that you sit down and talk with me but let’s get you sorted out first. Because we don’t want to taint the legacy. We don’t want you leaving Manchester United under a cloud and there’s no reason that you should.’”
Keys long-term television partner Andy Gray then got invovled, asking Morgan if he felt Ronaldo had tainted his legacy at Old Trafford to which the 57-year-old responded: “No I don’t think so! I don’t think a few months’ problems with Erik ten Hag and the coach he’d never heard of, Rangnick, is going to make any difference to the legacy of Ronaldo.”
“You think in time Manchester United fans will forget it?” Gray continued. “Yeah, he remains one of the greatest players they’ve ever had,” Morgan said. “And in terms of…”
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Keys then interrupted him, using the example of his experience since he was sacked by Sky for sexist comments made towards lineswoman Sian Massey-Ellis in 2011. “What if they have a view that you’ve just suggested the public do of us?” he queried. “It’s going to be a long time!”
Morgan’s reply was simple: “You know what Cristiano said to me, ‘You’re never going to please everybody so you may as well be true to yourself.”
It remains to be seen what Ronaldo’s legacy at United will be once the initial reactions to the interview have died down however it is clear that some of the Old Trafford faithful will need time to forgive their former star for his actions.
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