Cristiano Ronaldo has been labelled as 'deluded' and 'not a particularly nice person' following the first part of his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan.
Broadcast on Talk TV on Wednesday night, many were glued to the interview as Ronaldo ripped into Manchester United's lack of progress, the poor mentality of the club's youngsters and why he dismisses criticism from former team-mates.
One of those watching on was talkSPORT pundit and former Chelsea and Tottenham defender Jason Cundy.
He claimed the interview was 'far worse' than he anticipated and it showed Ronaldo's 'unbelievable lack of self-awareness'.
'I don't quite get the end game with all this,' Cundy said after the interview aired.
'I came into it with quite an open mind - but who has he got around him? Who are his advisors? This is worse than I thought, far worse than I thought.
'I don't think he comes out of it particularly well. I have to say I don't think he's a particularly nice person. That came across.
'There is an unbelievable lack of self-awareness in every answer he gave. Everything was about him.'
Ronaldo, sat comfortably in a plain white t-shirt and dark brown blazer, barely furrowed his brow as he continued to lament various issues at United since he returned in 2021.
Cundy was totally bemused by what he saw as an 'incredibly staged' exchange between Ronaldo and Morgan.
One of the most contentious points to come out of part one of the interview was Ronaldo accusing young players at the club of 'not caring' as they lack the 'hunger' of his generation.
'They listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side,' Ronaldo said.
'It doesn't surprise me. But in the same way it's a shame because if they have the best examples in front of your eyes, and if they don't at least copy what you did.
'For me, it's kind of weird, because I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, I always looked to see the best players in Van Nistelrooy, Ferdinand, Roy Keane, and Giggs - this is why I have the success that I have and longevity. They don't care.'
For Cundy, he is convinced no young player at United watching that interview would want to be anything like the person Ronaldo is.
'The answer about the young kids that [Piers] is asking about, he sees himself as an example,' Cundy continued as part of his on-air rant.
'If that was in the dressing room and I see that as a young kid at Man United, I don't want to be that person. I want to be that player; I don't want to be that person.'
He added: 'I'm not actually sure he does set a good example. He's an unbelievable player, we all know how good he is, but it comes across quite obvious that in the last 20 years he hasn't had to deal with criticism, being left out the team, rejection... this is the first time in his life.
'He's living in a bubble. Footballers are in bubbles. I'm looking at a man there where no-one around him has said anything and it's come home to roost now.
'That to me there is a person who is deluded if he thinks this has been a good idea, worse than I thought, far worse than I thought.'
Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday that Ronaldo has burned his bridges at United and the feeling among the squad is that it would be better if the club find a way of offloading Ronaldo while he is at the World Cup so that the 37-year-old Portugal star does not return to Old Trafford.
Manchester United confirmed earlier this week that they are waiting until the second part of his interview with Morgan, which airs on Thursday, before deciding their next steps, as they explore a potential termination of contract.
As revealed by Sportsmail this week, United are exploring ways of sacking Ronaldo over his bombshell interview.
It is understood that lawyers for United are studying Ronaldo's claims that he feels betrayed by the club and has no respect for manager Ten Hag, to see if this constitutes a breach of his contract.
On Wednesday afternoon construction workers outside Old Trafford were seen tearing down a mural that include the rebel Portuguese star.
Ronaldo was pictured alongside Bryan Robson, David Beckham and other iconic No 7s in United's past as part of the 'More than a shirt' campaign.
But in light of his damning remarks to Morgan the mural was ripped down on Wednesday.
Ronaldo, who is on a £500,000-a-week contract until it expires in June, will, along with United, be looking to go separate ways at the earliest opportunity after the World Cup and Sportsmail revealed this week that he has held talks with Bayern Munich.
Kissbabys
27
I guess CHRISTIANO doesn’t have an adviser, he speaks without thinking of what may backfire. How dare him criticize his coach, how dare him call a former coach a sport director rather than a boss. Enough of his stupidity, he is 37 but act like a 20 year old boy. Criticizing your teammates and the club while under contract. No player is bigger than a club, Ronaldo needs to be humble and should not forget, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” I come in peace ☮️ ✌️
Kkrexuke
21
Eating with one hand at utd and stabbing them with the other. what do you call that ? a traitor.
NFK97
19
Criticise your team mates on a media as though he was the one paying their salaries and when his former team mates criticise his attitude he'll say they're jealous. Tell me it's not hypocrisy
simzer17
13
why do we say cr7 is right to criticize everything and everyone at united, even managers but cannot take criticism from his former teammates because all we hear from this is criticism on everyone but nothing about himself, so much for a goat