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.