Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United "with immediate effect," the Premier League club said Tuesday. The termination of the 37-year-old forward`s contract comes after he conducted an explosive interview in which he criticised manager Erik ten Hag and the club`s owners. It wasn`t immediately clear where he would end up next after failing to secure a move to a Champions League club in the summer.

"Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early," Ronaldo said. "I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.