Manager Ruben Amorim of Manchester United has clarified that he and Cristiano Ronaldo were “never close.” As Ronaldo approaches his 40th birthday this Wednesday, it highlights the incredible longevity he has maintained throughout his illustrious football career. He marked his significant achievement as one of the oldest players in the sport by scoring two goals for Al-Nassr in their AFC Champions League match against Al Wasl earlier this week, 23 years after he first debuted for Sporting CP. However, it’s improbable that the United legend got any birthday greetings from Amorim, the former Sporting player and the current manager of United. This information comes directly from the individual, who disclosed the unexpected news that he hasn’t been in touch with the two fellow countrymen since he assumed the role with the Red Devils in November. This is notable given their past as Portugal teammates and their connections to the Old Trafford club. Amorim, who celebrated his 40th birthday on January 27, shared his thoughts on their relationship during a recent interview. When asked if he had spoken to the legendary former Real Madrid and Juventus player since taking over as United manager, he responded to O Jogo: “No, we used to communicate when we were on the national team.” I haven’t had a particularly close relationship with Cristiano; our conversations were limited to when I was with the national team. Whenever we see each other, we chat; we acknowledge that he is a legend and a role model for this club and has been a significant figure for our nation, but our connection doesn’t go beyond that. He serves as a role model for all Portuguese individuals and is a legendary figure in our club. Despite being former teammates, Amorim has not had any communication with Ronaldo (Image: Sky Sports). Amorim was involved with the Portugal national team intermittently from 2010 to 2014, a period that coincided with Ronaldo’s extensive international career that began in 2003 and continues today. Given this, it may be surprising that he hasn’t tapped into Ronaldo’s vast experience in English football, especially after starting his managerial tenure at Manchester United facing challenges, with three draws and eight losses in 19 games. Amorim’s hesitation to associate with Ronaldo might stem from the controversy surrounding the forward’s second stint at United, which ended in 2022 after he was sidelined before making explosive comments about the club’s management and ownership. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, one of Ronaldo’s previous teams, honored the legend by sending him a message on his significant birthday.
