Ronaldo, speaking to Piers Morgan on TalkTV, announced that he has no respect for Ten Haag and claimed that many people at United were trying to force him to leave. The 37-year-old forward also claimed that the Glazer family, owners since 2005, did not care about the club. United are taking legal advice – and waiting for the full interview to be broadcast – before responding and while a statement said their “focus remains on… continuing the momentum, belief and cohesion that is being built”, the results of the interview are clear it is felt by the rest of United’s players. Varane, who is preparing for the World Cup with France, told Europe 1 radio station: “Obviously it affects us. We watch what happens and what is said. “We’re trying to calm the situation in our own way, we’re trying not to get too involved in it. When it’s a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, even more we try to take it with a distance, that is we don’t try to change the situation alone, we are part of a collective. “What I want is the best for my team, whatever the decision is [by the club]as a player, we will accept it and give our best.” With his words still being digested by United’s players, Ronaldo missed training with Portugal on Wednesday with a stomach bug. It’s been an eventful week for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has also been involved in awkward exchanges with international team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Joao Cancelo. Portugal begin their World Cup campaign next week against Ghana. Meanwhile, France’s team announced that it has pledged to financially support non-governmental organizations and charities working to protect human rights. The World Cup has been marred by the appalling lack of protection for migrant workers who have endured exploitative and even deadly conditions as Qatar prepared for the tournament, while the country’s stance on LGBT+ rights has also cast a heavy shadow over the event. “We are players, we have this way of expressing ourselves, but it is human that we expressed it through this letter,” said Varane, the France vice-captain. “It’s also very light [shone] upon us and we also want to humanly express what we feel.”
