Cristiano Ronaldo says his former club Manchester United must rebuild from scratch if they are to compete for football's top honours again.
The 39-year-old Portuguese striker won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and a Club World Cup during his first spell at United from 2003 to 2009 and said he still loves the club, who finished eighth in the league last season.
Ronaldo says coach Erik ten Hag's attitude is too negative and urges him to aim for the Premier League title.
The Portugal star, who now plays for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, had a falling out with Ten Hag before his second spell at Old Trafford ended at the end of 2022.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, which will air on Thursday, Ronaldo said he was happy with the way the club's administrators, led by INEOS boss Jim Ratcliffe, were investing in infrastructure.
“They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion… the club needs time to rebuild itself because it is still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change. They understand that this is the only way.
“I think the future will be bright. I do, but they don’t rely on talent alone. They have to rebuild from the bottom up. If not, they can’t compete. It will be impossible.”
Ronaldo dismisses Ten Hag's strategy for winning titles
Ten Hag has said he is “pretty confident” of winning more silverware this campaign after lifting the League Cup and FA Cup in the last two seasons.
But he said in July that his side are “a long way” from being ready to win the Premier League, which they have not won since Alex Ferguson's final season in charge in 2013.
Ronaldo dismissed ten Hag's attitude.
“The manager says he can't compete to win the league and the Champions League. The Manchester United manager can't say he won't fight to win the league or the Champions League.
“You have to be there, say mentally: listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I can't say that. We're going to try. We have to try.”
United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May but endured their worst Premier League campaign last season, finishing eighth, and the 20-time English champions have lost two of their first three games this season.
Ten Hag is already under pressure after two defeats in his first three games and Ronaldo said he should lean on his former United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been hired as assistant coach.
“You can’t rebuild a club without knowledge,” he said. “I think Ruud will help because he was inside the club. He knows the club, he knows the fans. If the manager listens to him, I think they can improve the club a little bit.”
'I love that club'
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner who spent six seasons with United earlier in his career, scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford after joining Juventus in 2021.
Following his departure just over a year later, he said he felt “betrayed” and said of ten Hag: “I have no respect for him because he has no respect for me.”
However, the 39-year-old said he still loves the club.
“I’m not happy with the way it all happened but, in the same way, sometimes we can’t control some points in our life, but it’s done, it’s done,” he said.
“Proving that I am right or wrong is no longer my business. I say what I have to say and, as far as I am concerned, it is done.”
He added: “I love that club. I’m not the kind of person who forgets the past.”
United are currently 14th in the league and visit Southampton on Saturday.
