Manchester United tore down a giant mural of Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford on Wednesday just hours before his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan was due to air.
United want to kick Ronaldo out of the club over his claims that he feels betrayed by his treatment and has no respect for manager Erik ten Hag.
The Portugal star has also criticised United for lacking empathy when his baby daughter fell ill last summer, and accused the Glazer family of not caring about the club.
A mural which includes Cristiano Ronaldo has been removed from outside Old Trafford
Featuring in the club’s ‘More than a shirt’ campaign about No 7, United have taken it down just days after Ronaldo made a serious of allegations, including that the club have ‘betrayed’ him
Workmen were seen tearing down the mural of United’s famous No.7s – including Ronaldo, David Beckham, Bryan Robson and Lionesses star Ella Toone – that dominated the front of Old Trafford.
The first instalment of the interview aired on Talk TV on Wednesday night and Morgan responded over the mural by tweeting: ‘Wow … so petty!’
United’s lawyers are waiting to see the second half of the interview on Thursday before deciding if there are grounds to sack Ronaldo for breach of contract.
Morgan has had a long sitdown with Ronaldo (left) which has led to a series of allegations
If that is not an option, United will look to tear up his £500,000-a-week contract.
The club are fiercely opposed to paying up the final seven-and-a-half months of the deal, worth up to £14million, because it would be seen as rewarding disloyalty.
There is growing resentment towards Ronaldo on the back of this interview and many around the club believe he has played his last game for United.
Sportsmail revealed Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes met with Bayern Munich last week as he plotted his exit from the club.
United do not welcome fans back to Old Trafford until December 21 when they host Championship high-flyers Burnley in the Carabao Cup.
The front of Old Trafford, above the club shop, will look distinctly different when fans do return with Ronaldo likely to have been airbrushed off much of the signage in and around the ground.
United insisted on Wednesday night that the timing was purely coincidental, and they had planned to remove the mural so new branding could be displayed for the Rugby League World Cup finals this weekend.
Ronaldo has proven a popular marketing tool on murals outside Old Trafford but it is unlikely he ever features on one again following his bombshell accusations against the club this week
Source: dailymail.co.uk
