Man Utd players talked about Cristiano Ronaldo behind his back during complicated return

 Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United in the summer of 2021 was somewhat a success and a failure. His sensational comeback even saw several United players discuss how transformative a signing the Portuguese star was, prior to its sour conclusion.

Initially joining United in 2003, Ronaldo, now 40, went on to cement his status as one of the game's most exceptional talents during his first stint at Old Trafford.

He netted more than a century of goals for the Red Devils and contributed to United securing three Premier League crowns and the Champions League in 2008. The following year he left for an equally successful stint at Real Madrid, going on to join Juventus for a three-year stay.

Ronaldo, who signed for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr three years ago, departed United for a second time in November 2022 following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. He criticised the club's condition and his handling under former United manager Erik ten Hag.

During Ronaldo's first season at United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his influence was palpable to those at the club. Former Red Devils keeper Lee Grant even spoke about how players were talking to one another about the positive changes he had brought.

Grant told talkSPORT in 2021: "To give you one instance of the impact he is having on the group, this was Friday night in the hotel. So, as you guys will be aware, you finish your dinner and usually on a Friday night you've got some cheat stuff out. You've got some apple crumble and custard or you've got a bit of brownie and cream.

"I tell you now, not one player touched the apple crumble and custard, not one player went up for that brownie because everybody was sat down. One of the lads said to me, 'What has Cristiano got on his plate?' Obviously, it is the cleanest, most healthy plate you can imagine."

Ex-United coach Michael Carrick was part of Solskjaer's coaching team when the Portuguese superstar made his comeback to Old Trafford. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Carrick described the surreal experience of witnessing the legendary Ronaldo back at United's Carrington training ground and how his presence created a thrill around United.

"Yeah, he was good," Carrick said when Ferdinand quizzed him about Ronaldo's comeback. "I mean, there was a hell of a buzz around the place when he came back. It was an incredible kind of feeling around those games, and then him coming back. And just seeing him back around the building was weird."

However, Solskjaer was sacked by United in November 2021 and United made the decision to hire Ralf Rangnick. Ronaldo became increasingly disillusioned by what he was seeing at Old Trafford, something he brought up in his now-infamous interview with Morgan.

"I don't know what's going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left [in 2013], I saw no evolution in the club. The progress was zero," Ronaldo told Morgan.

One of the most memorable incidents that helped seal Ronaldo's exit followed United's 2-0 win over Tottenham in October 2022 when Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel before the end of the game.

United defender Lisandro Martinez was asked to comment on Ronaldo's strop and exit in the immediate aftermath. "I didn't see anything," explained the centre-back, adding: "I don't know. I only enjoy with the people, we won, and that's important."

From being hailed as a returning hero to leaving under a dark cloud, Martinez's remarks, hinting that United's players were too busy celebrating to even notice Ronaldo wasn't in the room, summed up the bitter end to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's time at United.