Ruben Amorim's surprising response over Cristiano Ronaldo since Man Utd appointment

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has surprisingly distanced himself from Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting that they were "never close". Ronaldo turns 40 on Wednesday, showcasing the remarkable longevity he has enjoyed over his illustrious career. He marked the special occasion by netting two goals for Al-Nassr against Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League earlier this week, a whopping 23 years after his professional debut for Sporting CP.

However, it seems unlikely that the United legend received any birthday wishes from Amorim - the former Sporting and current United boss. That’s according to Amorim himself, who revealed that the two compatriots have not been in contact since he took the Red Devils job in November, despite them having previously been international team-mates and their separate links to the Old Trafford club. Amorim, who himself celebrated his 40th birthday on January 27, shed light on their lack of a relationship in a recent interview. When asked whether he has talked to the Real Madrid icon since being appointed United manager, he told O Jogo: “No, we used to talk in the national team. I have never had a very close relationship with Cristiano; we only spoke when I went to the national team.

“Whenever we meet, we talk; we know he is a legend and an example for this club; he was and still is someone very important to our country, but nothing more than that. He is an example for all Portuguese people and a legend of our club.”. Amorim was part of Portugal's national team sporadically from 2010 to 2014, overlapping with Cristiano Ronaldo's incredible international career from 2003 to the present. He has surprisingly not sought any of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's extensive knowledge of English football, having won three Premier League titles and the Champions League with United.

The revelation comes after a woeful start to Amorim's tenure as Red Devils head coach, with three draws and eight losses in 19 games across all competitions. Yet his hesitation to connect with Ronaldo may stem from the latter's controversial exit from United in 2022, where he was frozen out of the squad by previous manager Erik ten Hag, before delivering an explosive interview slamming the club's infrastructure and ownership.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid, another of Ronaldo's former clubs, honoured the Santiago Bernabeu hero with a message on his landmark birthday. “Dear Cristiano, from Real Madrid, we want to send you our warmest wishes on your 40th birthday,” a post on the club's X account read. “Every Madridista is proud of the legend that you are and what you represent for our history. Have a great day with your family and loved ones.”.

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