Cristiano Ronaldo’s commitment to Manchester United’s training regime became a point of disagreement with former manager Erik ten Hag, who has recalled several incidents that contributed to the breakdown of their relationship at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag, speaking in an interview with The Athletic, said he expected the Portuguese forward to meet the same physical and tactical demands as other members of the squad, despite his reputation as one of football’s most accomplished players, Vanguard reported.

The former United manager alleged that Ronaldo once advised teammates to preserve their energy during training, a suggestion he considered incompatible with the fitness levels he wanted the squad to attain. He also questioned the striker’s contribution to the team’s pressing system and his movement into positions where he could receive the ball and score.

Ten Hag cited an episode following United’s 4-0 loss to Brentford in August 2022, when the players were ordered to run laps after the defeat. He said Ronaldo completed two laps instead of the three required. The manager also claimed that the forward sometimes pulled out of training sessions and struggled to meet the club’s fitness expectations.

Reflecting on their initial discussions, Ten Hag said he had travelled to Portugal before assuming the United job to explain his plans to Ronaldo. He later felt let down by the player’s failure to meet his expectations.

“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag said.

He nevertheless acknowledged Ronaldo’s standing in the sport, saying he respected the forward but had to make decisions based on what he considered best for the team.

“Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team,” he added.

Their differences became increasingly public during the 2022/23 campaign. Ronaldo departed United in November 2022 after an interview in which he criticised the club and its management.