In an 8-page feature, L’Équipe Magazine chronicles the split between Cristiano Ronaldo (38) and his historic agent and advisor Jorge Mendes (57). Ronaldo ended his collaboration with his fellow countryman at the end of last year, before his shock move to Saudi side Al-Nassr FC following the termination of his contract with Manchester United.
According to anonymous sources in the player’s and agent’s entourage, Ronaldo was, understandably, broken and crushed following the death of his son, Angel, at birth on April 16th. “From there, something broke, explains a friend of both Ronaldo and Mendes. He became unfiltered. When the head coach pisses him off, he tells him to piss off.
Same thing with Mendes.” The Portuguese 5-time Ballon d’Or was reportedly berated by Manchester United’s alleged lack of support to Ronaldo and his family during the tragic ordeal they went through. The Euro 2016 winner asked his long-time advisor to find a way out for him.
In the summer of 2022 already, Al-Nassr were showing interest, but neither Ronaldo or Mendes took their offer seriously. “He aimed higher than that”, said a British player’s agent to L’Équipe Magazine, “He thought he was able to attract the big clubs.“
Mendes found himself unable to find a way out of Manchester for Ronaldo and the two were then poles apart. The interview Ronaldo gave British columnist Piers Morgan sealed the deal and the end of their partnership. “From Mendes’ point of view, the interview was a huge f***-**”, reveals a friend of the advisor.
Another spoke about how Mendes felt about the end of his long-time working relation with Ronaldo. “It’s like a divorce for him. It’s like his wife were to dump him, and he even knows her lover.”
Indeed, Ronaldo’s new advisor is Portuguese Ricardo Regufe who, according to L’Equipe Magazine, does not get along at all with Mendes.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
