Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most iconic stars in football history, experienced a tense and sudden departure from Manchester United, leaving a lasting impact on both fans and teammates. The friction began in the 2022-2023 season under manager Erik ten Hag, whose strict disciplinary approach marked his early days with the team. While the club needed a reset following a series of managerial changes, some of Ten Hag's methods appeared to push boundaries—especially in his handling of Cristiano.

The situation boiled over in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to enter as a substitute in a match against Tottenham. Although seen as a disrespectful act by many, it quickly escalated into a public standoff between the Portuguese star and his manager. Ten Hag responded by sidelining Cristiano, instructing him to train separately from the first team. However, the punishment went further than usual: Ronaldo was barred from even entering the main locker room. When he attempted to retrieve a pair of boots, staff prevented him from doing so, and he ultimately had to ask a youth player to get them for him. Many teammates viewed this as an unnecessary humiliation.

The rift between Ronaldo and the club deepened beyond repair. Although his departure during the 2022 World Cup break was relatively clean, the way it unfolded left an impact on both the team and fans. It raised questions about whether such discipline truly benefited the club or if Ten Hag was merely trying to assert his authority at the expense of one of football's most respected figures.

Ronaldo’s exit wasn’t the only incident that brought controversy to United under Ten Hag. A similar fallout occurred with Jadon Sancho, who was isolated for months and forced to train alone. Sancho eventually went on loan, first to Borussia Dortmund and later to Chelsea, but his treatment underscored Ten Hag’s tough management style. Both players and pundits began questioning if the coach’s severe decisions were helping the club or simply creating divisions.

In early 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos team bought a 27.7% stake in the club, prompting another review of Ten Hag’s position. Although Ratcliffe initially supported the manager, his team quickly noticed that many of the club’s issues seemed to stem from a lack of cohesion and leadership—problems that, in part, pointed back to Ten Hag. Only an unexpected FA Cup victory in May, which led to a hastily arranged, unplanned celebration, saved Ten Hag's position. Yet he was warned that things would have to improve dramatically.

Ultimately, Ten Hag was replaced by Ruud van Nistelrooy, a change that brought some relief to the squad and a renewed sense of hope for a more stable and successful future. Yet for many, the memory of Ronaldo’s departure and Ten Hag’s strict leadership remains a challenging chapter in Manchester United’s recent history.