Cristiano Ronaldo spoke again about Manchester United, and once more, he didn’t hold back. The Portuguese star, who made history at the English club, made it clear that the team’s problems go far beyond the field. In an interview posted on YouTube, the Al Nassr forward said United has lost the structure that once made it one of Europe’s soccer giants.
“I’m sad because it’s one of the most important clubs in the world, a club I still have in my heart. It’s necessary to keep smart people in charge to build a foundation for the future, like United had a few years ago. Beckham, Roy Keane... they became great players, but there was youth. Today, there’s no structure. I hope it changes in the future because the club’s potential is incredible,” Cristiano said.
The statement is honest but full of frustration. What bothers him now is seeing the club that helped shape him into a global icon lose the identity that once made it feared.
A club without a solid foundation
The Portuguese veteran hit a sensitive point: structure. And he knows exactly what he’s talking about. The Manchester United he knew in the 2000s was a model of management, player development, and a winning culture. It was a club with clear hierarchy and a competitive atmosphere, shaped by Alex Ferguson’s leadership. Today, the reality is very different.
Ronaldo sees a team that constantly changes managers, spends millions on new signings, and still seems unsure of what it wants to be. His criticism is aimed more at the leadership than the players. When he says “it’s necessary to keep smart people in charge to build a foundation for the future,” the message is straightforward: there’s no long-term plan.
And that’s where United has stumbled for more than a decade. Since Ferguson’s departure in 2013, the club has lived off short-term projects and rushed decisions. The result is a squad with no cohesion, a locker room lacking stability, and a fan base that no longer recognizes the team that once ruled the Premier League.
Backing Ruben Amorim
Even while criticizing the club’s structure, Ronaldo made a point of defending current manager Ruben Amorim. “He’s doing his best. What’s he going to do? Miracles are impossible. Miracles only happen in Fátima, as we say in Portugal.” The light irony in his words carries a deeper truth: Cristiano acknowledges the coach’s effort but knows that without real support, no one can change things alone.
By saying “miracles only happen in Fátima,” Ronaldo takes Amorim out of the firing line and redirects the focus toward the club’s leadership. It’s both a defense and a demand. He understands that Amorim is trying to rebuild something inside a structure that, in Ronaldo’s own words, practically doesn’t exist.
And there’s another important point. When he says “some of them don’t have the mindset about what Manchester United is,” Ronaldo is calling out the locker room. The Portuguese forward, who’s always valued discipline and a winning mentality, sees a generation that doesn’t seem to grasp the weight of the badge they wear.