Cristiano Ronaldo has hit out at Erik ten Hag after the Manchester United boss imposed a jewellery ban on him

The feud between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag was reignited this week after the Portuguese icon launched his own YouTube channel, but a new reason for their mutual dislike could now emerge. The international football record goalscorer left the club in November 2022 following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, where he accused the Dutch manager of disrespecting him with his team selection.

Two months later, the 39-year-old left for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he continued to score relentlessly, marking the milestone in his career.

Ronaldo has scored 68 times in 75 games for the Middle Eastern club, but his controversial departure from Old Trafford continues to divide opinion among fans given their inconsistent form under Ten Hag.

New reports now suggest that problems between Ronaldo and his former boss began almost as soon as the Dutchman arrived in Manchester in the summer of 2022. And according to the Manchester Evening Newstheir front row being centered on the attacker's taste for wearing an earring.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo has worn an earring for most of his career. But it didn't seem to sit well with Ten Hag, who shortly after meeting the star asked him to take it off.

Ronaldo reportedly “cracked” at the request, refusing to comply. After returning to the club in the summer of 2021, he carried it through under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.

The situation reportedly came to a head when Ten Hag, fed up with being ignored, asked his assistant Steve McClaren to intervene. But that approach reportedly backfired when Ronaldo responded to the former England manager by throwing his earrings, worth around £1,000, into a bush.

Relations between the two men have hardly improved since then. Despite scoring 24 goals in the previous season, the Real Madrid legend found himself relegated to a supporting role before his one-on-one with Morgan ended his time in England.

Following the YouTube launch, 'CR7' took aim at Ten Hag again in an interview with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand. Referring to the 54-year-old's pre-season comments that the club could not realistically compete for the biggest trophies, he said: “Manchester United, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion.

“The coach says he can't fight to win the Champions League. The Manchester United coach can't say he's not going to fight to win the Champions League.

“This club needs time to rebuild because it is still one of the best clubs in the world, but it has to change. He understands that. It is the only way. That is why he is showing that he is starting to change again, the structure of the club, the president, the infrastructure and everything.”