Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't in good shape this season.
Ronaldo gave an exclusive interview to Piers Morgan, where criticised the club for pushing him out while also taking him at Erik ten Hag and former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
As a result, the Manchester outfit decided to part ways with Ronaldo who had six months remaining on his deal.
Read: Ex-Real star fires back at Ronaldo's critics
Ten Hag insists he had no desire to get rid of Ronaldo and claims him not being in shape is one of the main reasons for his bench role this campaign.
"It was not my objective. It looks like it, but it was not my objective," Ten Hag said, as per the Sun.
"We wanted him to be part of our project, him to contribute to Manchester United because he is a great player.
"He has such a great history, but it's the past and we have to look into the future and I don't spend my energy on it.
"I wanted him to stay from the first moment until now. He wanted to leave, it was quite clear.
"And when a player definitely doesn't want to be in this club then he has to go, clear.
"I did everything to bring him into the team because I value his quality.
"When he is in good shape, he is a good player and he could help us to get back and achieve the objectives we have. That is quite clear. But he wasn't."
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