Graeme Souness defends Cristiano Ronaldo after explosive interview

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness leaps to the defence of under-fire Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo

According to talkSPORT, Liverpool legend and former skipper Graeme Souness has come to the defence of embattled Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old’s second coming to Old Trafford has not gone according to plan and now appears to be heading towards a messy divorce. The club’s top-scorer last season, Ronaldo is a mere shadow of his former self this season and is also far from a first-XI player under Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo and Ten Hag have had their to and fros this season but the former’s interview with Piers Morgan appears to be the incident that breaks the camel’s back.  The player’s relationship with the club does appear to have reached a point of no return but he has now found an unlikely ally.

Souness, a Liverpool legend believes Ronaldo is the one being mistreated and that it is in fact, Ten Hag who does not appear to be holding his end of the bargain. It is quite the statement, especially from someone on the outside looking in.

🤔 Jim: “Surely you can no longer defend Ronaldo after this!?”

🔥 Graeme: “I certainly do! The player has a grievance and he is entitled to air it!”

Graeme Souness says Ronaldo’s RIGHT to say what he has said about #MUFC in his interview with @PiersMorgan! pic.twitter.com/bdMcoRC8U1

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 14, 2022

“I choose to believe Ronaldo has been mistreated here. I think he has been told a story and the manager has not kept it.”

The Scot goes on to add that Ronaldo has the right to air his grievance. While that may be true, there is a time and place for stars to express their issues and one could argue that Ronaldo’s in-the-face attitude has done him no favours.

“I think he is entitled to his grievance.”

Man United have responded by handing the player a £1 million fine and there are also reports that suggest that he could be allowed to leave as early as the January transfer window. While Souness might have the 37-year-old’s back, the same cannot be said of his one-time striker partner at Man United, Wayne Rooney.

Rooney warned against Ronaldo becoming an unwarranted distraction a few days ago and the former English ace had a point. Whether irked by the comment or something else, Ronaldo was far less complimentary while talking about Rooney to Morgan.

They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Ronaldo certainly appears to have done the latter, but he clearly self-destructed when it came to the former.