Following Erik ten Hag's sacking by Manchester United this week, how the Dutch coach humiliated Cristiano Ronaldo during his tumultuous tenure at the club has reportedly been revealed.
In November 2022, Ronaldo abruptly cut ties with United following a fallout with Ten Hag in the 2022/23 season.
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The Portuguese superstar said he felt disrespected by the former Ajax Amsterdam boss and that, as a result, he did not respect the manager either.
While the exact reason for their relationship turning sour was not clearly stated, there were strong suggestions that Ronaldo was not happy with the fact that he was left on the bench for two big games, against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, in October 2022.
In the match against Spurs, in which United claimed a 2-0 win, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner reportedly refused to come on a substitute in protest of the fact that he did not start the game.
ESPN journalist Rob Dawson has now claimed that this particular incident was a catalyst in how things would ultimately unfold between Ten Hag and Ronaldo, with many within the club believing the manager had taken his punishment of the Portuguese too far.
"Ronaldo was initially ordered to train away from the first team, but when he tried to enter the dressing room and retrieve a pair of his trainers, he was told by staff he wasn't allowed in," Dawson stated.
"The stand-off ended only when Ronaldo enlisted an academy player to go into the dressing room for him, with a number of senior players viewing the blanket ban as an unnecessary humiliation."
Elsewhere, several Premier League managers have shown sympathy towards Ten Hag in the wake of his sacking.
According to the BBC, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said: "I'm so sorry for him. I have an incredible relationship with him. He represented United in the highest level in terms of behaviour. I wish him all the best – he's going to come back stronger. He knows that our jobs depend on the results. If the results are not good enough, you will be sacked. I'm saying that about myself – I'm not an exception."
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Liverpool tactician and fellow Dutchman Arne Slot said: "Always your first thoughts are with the person. We are all in this job so we know that it can happen, but if it happens – especially because I know him a little bit and I know how much work he puts into it – to get this news for him is a pity."