Cristiano Ronaldo let Manchester United fans down and risked his Old Trafford legacy

"Ronaldo is coming home," read the official club announcement last summer. Manchester United had re-signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a two-year contract with the option to extend by a further year but that extension clause need not have been included.

Ronaldo might have returned 'home' but he didn't stay for very long. The club announced his departure on Tuesday night and his second stint at United has officially come to an end, with his interview with Piers Morgan last week the catalyst for his exit.

In that interview, Ronaldo said he does not have respect for Erik ten Hag and he claimed he feels 'betrayed' and 'forced out of the club', which stunned supporters, who had stood by him, even after he refused to play against Tottenham.

It's unlikely there will ever be a statue of Ronaldo at Old Trafford, like there is of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law. Ronaldo will not be immortalised in bronze, although he'd probably have insisted it was a statue made of gold instead, with it clear that his ego remains intact, despite his rapidly-waning ability to influence football matches.

“I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me," Ronaldo said about Ten Hag before Morgan asked about his future last week. "Yes [being forced out], not only by the coach, but two or three other guys that are around," Ronaldo replied. "I feel betrayed. Honestly, I shouldn't say that [trying to get rid of me], but listen, I don't care, I feel like some people don't want me here."

Ronaldo expressed it was his desire to leave the club in the summer and yet somehow he was being 'forced out of the club'. This is a player who indicated he wanted to leave, returned to pre-season late and only received a concrete offer from Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo did not want to make that move to Saudi Arabia but perhaps he will suddenly have a convenient change of heart.

When Ronaldo did eventually return against Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, he wrote on Instagram: "Sunday, the King plays." It felt like he was trying to get under Ten Hag's skin and that feeling only increased when he left the friendly early without permission. Ten Hag said he 'does not condone' that type of behaviour after that game and that suggested a storm was brewing.

The claim that Ronaldo made about being 'disrespected' by Ten Hag was as absurd as the comments about being 'forced out. It was actually Ten Hag, not Ronaldo, who was disrespected. The Tottenham debacle, when Ronaldo refused to be substituted on before heading down the tunnel, was embarrassing and Ten Hag's handling of that delicate situation was masterful.

Ten Hag refused to allow the childish tantrum to overshadow the Tottenham victory and he made Ronaldo train on his own at Carrington, while he also suspended him from the first-team squad for the Chelsea match at Stamford Bridge.

There were talks between Ten Hag and Ronaldo that followed and he was reintegrated back into the squad. Ronaldo was pictured smiling in training and he started against Aston Villa at Villa Park at the start of November, wearing the captain's armband.

That came just 18 days after he refused to play and he wouldn't have been given that responsibility had Ten Hag truly 'disrespected' him. There was then no sign of Ronaldo in the squad to play Aston Villa in League Cup and he was absent again due to an apparent illness for United's last Premier League match before the World Cup began against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The interview was clearly about Ronaldo pushing for an exit, just like he's done since the end of last season, and he's now achieved exactly that. That was completely his prerogative, he wasn't starting matches as frequently as he wanted, of course, but his comments about Ten Hag, who is trying to rebuild the club after a nightmare season, were disappointing and legacy-spoiling.

It's clear that Ronaldo only cares about himself, not the success of Manchester United. He is not bigger than the club, contrary to what he might think, and his behaviour over the last few months has undeniably left a sour taste in supporters' mouths.

When Ronaldo re-signed for the club last year, he said he wanted to make 'history' during his second stint. Ronaldo has not won any silverware, but he's been able to make history regardless, as nobody will forget the manner in which he's conducted himself.

It will be a relief for Ten Hag that he's left.