LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) Erik ten Hag faces scrutiny for his treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo during his tenure at Manchester United, as Arturo Vidal quips, “bald guys are complicated.”
Upon his arrival in the summer of 2022, Dutch coach Ten Hag inherited a squad that included five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo.
Despite Ronaldo’s impressive 24-goal tally in the previous season, he managed just three goals in 16 appearances before the World Cup break.
Following that break, Ronaldo never played for United again as his contract was terminated after a controversial interview in which he expressed a lack of respect for Ten Hag.
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The circumstances surrounding Ronaldo’s departure stirred debate for weeks before he joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
Former Barcelona and Juventus star Vidal is among those who believe that the football legend should have been handled with more care and respect.
Chilean midfielder Vidal expressed his views on his personal Twitch stream, saying, “That coach mishandled things. How can you bench Cristiano Ronaldo? That’s how these guys are.
“He was the top scorer, and they benched him. These bald guys are quite complicated.“
Ronaldo remains a legend at Old Trafford from his initial spell at United, where he scored 118 goals in 292 appearances and contributed to the club’s Premier League and Champions League triumphs.
While some Red Devils fans may have mixed feelings about him now, Ten Hag has demonstrated throughout his time in English football that he is unafraid to make challenging decisions when faced with challenges to his authority.