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Cristiano Ronaldo laments lack of structure at Man Utd: 'Ruben Amorim can't perform miracles'
Martin Macdonald
- 4 Nov 2025 13:00 CST
- 6 min read
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Cristiano Ronaldo believes Man Utd won't achieve true success at highest level again until the correct "structure' is put in place at the club, from youth development to training innovations to the board room.
CR7 became one of the best players in the world during his time at Old Trafford and won his first Ballon d'Or at the club.
With the Red Devils he won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two League Cups, one Champions League title and one Club World Cup before his record transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.
In 2021, he completely a shock return to Man Utd for a second spell, though he didn't enjoy the same level of success and eventually left the club under a bit of a cloud in 2022, having fell out with manager Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo says that United hadn't and still haven't evolved from the period of his first spell under Sir Alex Ferguson.
“For me, I'm sad because of the club, that’s one of the most important clubs in the world, and a club that I still have in my heart because of the obvious reasons,” the Portuguese superstar said in a new interview with Piers Morgan.
“You have to follow with the intelligent people, smart people, to create a base for the future as Manchester United have [done] so many years ago. Nicky Butt, Gary [Neville], Roy Keane, Beckham, they became big players but they had youth. So Manchester United right now, they don't have a structure.
“I hope that changes in the future, present/future, because the potential of the club, it's amazing. It's one of the most important clubs of the century.
“Of course (it hurts me) because I played there for so many years. I win the Champions League, the Golden Ball, I win like 12, 13, 14 titles there, so as I say and I repeat, Manchester United is still in my heart.
"I love that club. But we have to all be honest and look for ourselves and say we are not in a good path, so they need to change, and it is not only about the coach and players, in my opinion.”
Ruben Amorim can't perform miracles
Man Utd are desperate for some kind of consistency in the dugout as no manager has replicated the kind of success Ferguson enjoyed in his tenure.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, now Amorim have all taken charge on a permanent basis since 2014.
Amorim has looked on the brink of being sacked on a number of occasions, though United are enjoying a decent spell of form at the moment.
Ronaldo says his compatriot can't be expected to perform miracles at Old Trafford.
“He is doing his best, what else can he do?" CR7 explained
"He can’t do miracles. We say in Portugal, ‘Miracles is only in Fatima’... And he’s not gonna do miracles. They have good players but they don’t have, some of them, in mind what Manchester United is.”
"It's not possible for them to win the Premier League. They're already too many points behind Arsenal."
Ronaldo to retire soon?
He is in the twilight of his career and will turn 41 in February even though he does plan to play at the 2026 World Cup at that age.
The time to hang up his boots is coming.
When asked in the interview with Morgan what age he thinks he will retire, Ronaldo responded:
"Soon, but I think I will be prepared.
"It will be tough, it will be difficult. Probably I will cry. Yes. I’m an easy guy to cry, I don’t keep my feelings [inside]. I’m honest.
"I’m an open person.
"It will be very, very difficult. But, Piers, I prepared my future since I was 25, 26, 27.
"So, I think I will be capable to support that pressure."
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