Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho's roller coaster relationship: The history of the Portuguese pair's war of words over the last decade

  • Cristiano Ronaldo has been linked with a move back to Manchester United
  • Ronaldo is rumoured to be unhappy in Spain after being labeled a tax cheat
  • The 32-year-old could be in line for an unlikely reunion with Jose Mourinho
  • Ronaldo worked under Mourinho during the Portuguese's spell at Real Madrid
  • Sportsmail charts the strained relationship between the pair in recent years

Cristiano Ronaldo's uncertain future is set to dominate headlines over the summer transfer window, with an unexpected exit from Real Madrid an increasing possibility.

The Portuguese superstar is unhappy with what he perceives to be unfair treatment from the Spanish tax authorities and a lack of support from both Madrid and its fans.

A number of clubs are thought to be monitoring the situation, with former side Manchester United seemingly at the front of the queue - setting up the possibility of an reunion between Ronaldo and compatriot Jose Mourinho.


Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the pair's strained relationship from their early days in the Premier League to the time spent together in three seasons at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho have had a strained relationship over the last decade

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho have had a strained relationship over the last decade

 

April 2007 - Mourinho labels Ronaldo a liar after the winger denies Manchester United received favourable treatment from Premier League referees. 

Mourinho: 'If he says it's a lie Manchester United have conceded some penalties this season which have not been awarded against them he's lying.

'Ronaldo is a great player, perhaps the best in the world. But he needs to be mature enough to accept you cannot argue against facts.

'And if you lie then you may never reach the level which he aspires to as a footballer.'

Ronaldo: 'The whole world knows how Mourinho is. He always has to say something to gain attention, especially when he is not happy with the work of his players. 

'He never recognises when he is wrong.'

Mourinho: 'It's a game where a kid said some statements not showing maturity and respect, maybe [he had a] difficult childhood, no education, [it's] maybe the consequence of that.'

Mourinho branded then Manchester United winger Ronaldo a liar during the 2006-07 season

Mourinho branded then Manchester United winger Ronaldo a liar during the 2006-07 season

May 2007 - Mourinho apologises for his earlier comments, and Ronaldo accepts the gesture.

Ronaldo: 'Mourinho has apologised to me and now I have no problem with him.

'I am pleased that this has happened. As far as I am concerned, the whole thing is now in the past.'

April 2011 - Ronaldo criticises Mourinho's defensive style of play at Real Madrid. 

Ronaldo: 'I don't like it, but I have to adapt because that is the way it is.'

Ronaldo criticised Mourinho's defensive tactics in the manager's second season at Real Madrid

Ronaldo criticised Mourinho's defensive tactics in the manager's second season at Real Madrid

January 2013 - Ronaldo loses his cool after being accused of not tracking back during a Copa del Rey win over Valencia.

Ronaldo: 'After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me! How dare you say that to me!'

Mourinho: 'I was saying it for the team, because the team needed you to track back.

'Just so you know, many think like me here, but don't dare say it, they don't have the balls to tell you.'

June 2013 - After leaving Real Madrid, Mourinho claims Ronaldo was difficult to coach and reacted badly to criticism. 

Mourinho: 'Cristiano Ronaldo maybe thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore.

'I had a very basic problem with him: criticise him from a tactical point of view, in that moment he did not accept it very well.'

August 2013 - The former Madrid boss aims another barb at his former player - claiming he is not the 'real' Ronaldo. 

Mourinho: 'I was manager for the first time in the 2000 year but, before that, I was assistant in big clubs and with big managers and coaching the best players in the world, so I was 30 and I was coaching Ronaldo, not this one [Cristiano], the real one, the Brazilian Ronaldo.'

Ronaldo and Mourinho had to be separated from each other in the changing rooms in 2013

Ronaldo and Mourinho had to be separated from each other in the changing rooms in 2013

November 2015 - Ronaldo plays down the rivalry and backs his former manager to succeed after a poor start to the season with Chelsea.

Ronaldo: 'I would put him at the top, I always say that.

'He's a good coach, he did many good things and won many trophies for other clubs.'

May 2016 - Ronaldo wishes Mourinho well ahead of his move to Manchester United. 

Ronaldo: 'I hope Manchester United get back to being what they were because it's an impressive club but in the last years they lacked an identity a bit.

'And it hurts me seeing United like that because it's a club that I carry in my heart. I wish Mourinho can carry them back to the top.' 

Mourinho claimed Ronaldo was hard to manage after leaving the Bernabeu later that year

Mourinho claimed Ronaldo was hard to manage after leaving the Bernabeu later that year

August 2016 - Mourinho criticises Ronaldo for his touchline antics during the Euro 2016 final. 

Mourinho: 'Cristiano Ronaldo didn't help in any way by doing that in the final few minutes of the Euros final.

'There were 11 players on the pitch doing their job, and the person in charge of directing them was the coach.

'I saw it as an overload of emotion from someone who saw that the team was just minutes away from achieving an objective which everyone wanted.' 

The former Chelsea boss criticised Ronaldo's touchline antics in the Euro 2016 final in Paris

The former Chelsea boss criticised Ronaldo's touchline antics in the Euro 2016 final in Paris

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