Overview
- Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, McClaren described repeated training-ground confrontations between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag.
- McClaren said Ten Hag instructed Ronaldo to act as the first press, make one to three runs, then recover centrally for transitions.
- According to McClaren, Ten Hag refused to compromise and warned that Ronaldo would not be selected if he would not carry out the role.
- The dispute preceded reduced minutes, Ronaldo’s unauthorised Piers Morgan interview, and his November 2022 contract termination before signing for Al-Nassr.
- The revelations are being reported as retrospective context, with Ten Hag long gone as manager and Ronaldo still at Al-Nassr.