Richard Keys believes Cristiano Ronaldo “tainted his legacy” at Manchester United through his intervew with Piers Morgan, and accused the TalkTV host of pushing for sitting down with the striker at the wrong time.
During their own interview with Morgan, in which they opened up on their sacking by Sky Sports in 2011, Keys and broadcast partner Andy Gray questioned Morgan over his recent bombshell chat with Ronaldo.
CR7 accused both United and Erik ten Hag of betrayal and also had a go at some of his former teammates, who have dared to criticise him in recent weeks and months.
The interview has not gone down well with the majority of United fans and led him and the club to part ways last week.
And Keys believes the sit-down was “badly timed” and reckons Morgan should have had Ronaldo’s legacy at United in mind.
“I think it’s badly timed, I didn’t think he needed to volunteer for the aggravation that it’s brought him,” Keys told Morgan.
“Were I you, I would’ve said to him, ‘Listen I’m very, very keen that you sit down and talk with me but let’s get you sorted out first. Because we don’t want to taint the legacy. We don’t want you leaving Manchester United under a cloud and there’s no reason that you should.””
Gray then asked Morgan whether he thought the interview had marred Ronaldo’s legacy.
“No I don’t think so,” came the reply from Morgan. “I don’t think a few months’ problems with Erik ten Hag and the coach he’d never heard of, Rangnick, is going to make any difference to the legacy of Ronaldo.”
“You think in time Manchester United fans will forget it?” Gray continued.
“Yeah, he remains one of the greatest players they’ve ever had,” Morgan said. “And in terms of…”
Keys then interrupted Morgan, citing his experience after being sacked by Sky in 2011. “What if they have a view that you’ve just suggested the public do of us?” he queried. “It’s going to be a long time!”
Morgan replied: “You know what Cristiano said to me, ‘You’re never going to please everybody so you may as well be true to yourself.”