Ronaldo to leave Man Utd with immediate effect
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Manchester United with immediate effect.
The decision follows a controversial interview in which the 37-year-old criticised the club and said he had "no respect" for manager Erik ten Hag.
Both parties stated that Ronaldo's exit was "mutually agreed".
"The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford," said a Manchester United statement.
They wished "him and his family well for the future" and added, "everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team's progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch".
Ronaldo is with Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar and is set to captain them in their opening Group H game against Ghana on Thursday.
"Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early," said a statement from the forward.
"I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.
"I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future."
Ronaldo first played for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009 and bagged the English Premier League title for three years in a row (2006/2007/, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009) before his return in August 2021.
He is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, four being with Real Madrid in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
After leaving Man United, he played for Real Madrid and Juventus to win league titles and in 2016, he won the EURO championship with Portugal.
