Cristiano Ronaldo cleared out his Manchester United locker prior to his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, reports say.
After he laid into Erik ten Hag, Ralf Rangnick, the Glazers, Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville among others, Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by mutual consent without any compensation.
He then went into his fifth and final World Cup as a free agent for the first time in his career and is now looking for his next move at the age of 37.
However, The Athletic say Ronaldo was more or less preparing for his departure from United before he sat down with Morgan.
It’s claimed the Portugal captain took out “the important items” from his locker prior to November 13 ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
The explosive interview, which was requested by Ronaldo and resulted in his exit was aired on November 16 and 17.
Ronaldo, therefore, does not need to return to the club’s training ground because he took his belongings with him last month.
But he denied the rumours, branding them “not true”. In the chat with Morgan, had previously said he turned down a lucrative £300 million offer from an unnamed Saudi Arabian side in the summer window and wanted to play in the Champions League.
Chelsea and boyhood club Sporting CP were linked in the summer as Jorge Mendes offered his client around but he ended up staying put.
The report also adds that Ronaldo was even made available on much less wages – dropping down from £450,000-a-week to £80,000-a-week – and yet still no suitors could be found.
Ten Hag, who Ronaldo clashed with after not fitting into his way of playing, does not sound like he will miss the five-time Ballon d’Or winner too much.
“We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future.”