A Spanish report claims Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick is 'totally fractured'.
According to AS, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner doesn't think Rangnick has the ability to manage The Red Devils, a belief shared by some of the squad's 'leading heavyweights'.
Advert
Furthermore, the report also claims Ronaldo and Rangnick had a bust-up last Friday when the interim boss accused the Portuguese star of not performing in front of goal.
The 37 year old hasn't scored in his last five appearances, with Rangnick dropping him for United's recent visit to Burnley.
This is not the first time messages of discontent have seeped out of the Old Trafford dressing room. Just last week it was reported that some United players referred to Rangnick's deputy Chris Armas as Ted Lesso, the inept title character of the Apple TV series.
Advert
When asked about the players' apparent unhappiness, United legend Gary Neville said he had little to no sympathy.
"I remember when I joined Sky and we had the Champions League in the early years, and I went over to Napoli to do a game involving Chelsea," he told listeners of his podcast. "It was when Andre Villas-Boas was their manager and he left out Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole – four or five prominent players.
"I remember sitting there at lunchtime with our team and they were getting messages of team news being leaked and the manager being slagged off, and I sat there thinking "does this actually happen"?
Advert
"Players agents and PR teams were briefing the media on a matchday about what was going on inside a club, and it was the first time I had seen it and known for it to happen – it really unnerved me.
"That is happening at Manchester United now – they are at it, the PR teams, the agents and the marketing teams, as a self-preservation for their own player.
'But what they do not realise is that unfortunately, when they go to the media then those media people go to us – so we know who is briefing. The reality is that we do not like it, but we know who it is.
Advert
'I thought that was downright disrespectful - I did not find it funny at all that they were describing Ralf Rangnick’s No 2 as Ted Lasso and not only was it disrespectful, but I found it disgusting.
'It sums up what I think of them: that they are disrespectful.
Rangnick will vacate his position as manager in May before moving upstairs, with Sportsmail claiming the German wants Ajax's Erik ten Hag to take over.
However, it's understood that the players' preference is PSG's Mauricio Pochettino, who has managed in the Premier League before with Southampton and Tottenham respectively.
Advert
Could his appointment revitalise United? Or should Rangnick be allowed to direct the club's rebuild?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ralf Rangnick, Gary Neville
James Aldred