Ronaldo speaks again about Manchester United: Structural mistakes mean Amorim cannot work miracles; saddened but hopeful for a swift revival.

After three years, Ronaldo once again sat down with Piers Morgan. It was during a previous interview with Morgan that the Portuguese star criticized the club, leading to his departure from Old Trafford. This time, recording from his own living room on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," he expressed sadness over Manchester United’s current state and hopes for the club’s resurgence.

Throughout his career, Ronaldo played for Manchester United twice. In his first spell, he won the Premier League, Champions League, and Ballon d’Or. However, his return to Old Trafford did not go as planned, ending with a fallout and separation. After Ronaldo left in 2022, Manchester United won some cup titles but performed poorly in the Premier League and Champions League.

Despite the unpleasant exit, 40-year-old Ronaldo said he still cares deeply about Manchester United but remains unhappy with the club’s structure. When asked by Morgan, "Do you still follow Manchester United’s results? Does their poor performance upset you?"

Ronaldo responded firmly, "Yes, absolutely! It saddens me because this is one of the biggest clubs in world football. For obvious reasons, I still have strong feelings for Manchester United. You need to employ wise, intelligent people to lay a solid foundation for the club’s future, just like years ago."

He added, "Nicky Butt, Gary (Neville), Roy Keane, and Beckham became stars while still young. But now, Manchester United lacks a sensible structure."

Regarding his criticism of Manchester United, Ronaldo explained it comes from a place of deep love. "I spent many years there, winning the Champions League, the Ballon d’Or, and around 12, 13, 14 trophies. So I must reiterate, Manchester United remains in my heart." He said, "I love the club, but we must face reality honestly. Look, they have taken the wrong path. So Manchester United must change, and I believe it’s not just about the coach and players."

Manchester United’s current coach, Rúben Amorim, is the same age as Ronaldo; they were teammates on the Portugal national team. Ronaldo wished Amorim well but emphasized that a coach alone cannot perform miracles. "He has done his best, but what else can you do?" Ronaldo explained. "Miracles? It’s impossible to always expect miracles. We Portuguese say: miracles only happen in Fátima. He can’t create miracles by himself."

Ronaldo referred to Fátima, a city in Portugal, where legend says three shepherd children witnessed the Virgin Mary’s apparition calling for world peace. On May 13, 1917, thousands gathered amid heavy rain, which suddenly stopped, and the ground and clothes dried instantly—known as the "Fátima Miracle." The Portuguese use Fátima to illustrate that faith is what creates miracles.

Ronaldo added, "Manchester United has some good players, but some don’t truly understand the Red Devils' spirit. I hope this changes soon, or better yet, now, because the club has tremendous potential. It is one of the most successful clubs of this century."

Recently, Ronaldo extended his contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr for two more years but revealed he will retire "soon" and has been preparing for this moment for nearly 15 years. "I feel ready," he said. "Of course, it will be very hard, yes, I might cry. Losing the thrill of walking into a packed stadium with fans chanting my name will be difficult to adjust to."

However, Ronaldo added, "I think nothing compares to the adrenaline rush of playing football and scoring goals, and that feeling will vanish after retirement. But everything has a beginning and an end."

Regarding life after retirement, Ronaldo said, "I will have more time for myself and my family, especially raising my three-year-old Bella. When I’m away on long away trips, I feel this. I want to watch Mini-Ron, who is at the age of starting to do silly things. That’s normal; I was like that too. I hope Matteo will love football. I want to spend more time with my family. I also have hobbies—I enjoy watching UFC and playing paddle tennis regularly with friends. I want to learn more about my business because I’m very curious."

Ronaldo has five children: 15-year-old Mini-Ron, 8-year-old twins Matteo and Eva, 7-year-old daughter Alana, and 3-year-old Bella. The Portuguese star revealed that it was his daughters who convinced him to propose to his girlfriend Georgina. "My two daughters told me, ‘You should give the ring to mom; you should get married.’ I knew it was the right thing to do. For my daughters, this was the right time."

The wedding date is yet to be decided; Ronaldo plans to wait until after next summer’s World Cup in North America. He does not intend to hold a grand, lavish ceremony. He emphasized that by age 39, he had already surpassed a billion-dollar net worth and no longer cares about money. "At this stage of my life, I don’t care about those things anymore. I just want to be happy and enjoy life. As the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung said, after 40, you truly understand yourself and begin to live—and that’s exactly what I am starting to feel."