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Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United with immediate effect, the club has announced.

In a statement, the club said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.

“The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.

“Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.”

Ronaldo added: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.

“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.

“I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

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Reports last week claimed United‘s lawyers had been looking at ways to bring Ronaldo’s time at the club to an end in the wake of his interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV.

Ronaldo, who has been a regular on the bench this season – scoring three goals in 16 appearances – accused United of betraying him by trying to force him out of the club.

He also said he had “no respect” for boss Erik ten Hag, and alleged two senior figures at Old Trafford treated him with suspicion when he said his daughter Bella was sick with bronchitis, three months after her twin brother died.

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Ronaldo: ‘I felt betrayed’ by Man Utd

Ronaldo leaving United was ‘inevitable’

Rob Harris, Sky’s sports correspondent, said the news Ronaldo is leaving Manchester United was “inevitable” after the interview.

He added: “Once Cristiano Ronaldo gave that interview last week saying he felt betrayed by Manchester United, as well as criticising the club, the standards of coaching, criticising the methodology and the fabric of the club, it looked like his time at Manchester United was coming to an end.

“This is the end of his second period at the club. He’d barely been there a year or so. United thought he was heading to Manchester City when they signed him a year ago. They managed to convince him. Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager, managed to convince him not to go to their arch-rivals, but it has been a souring of relations.”

Harris adds that Ronaldo is now 37 years old and has not had “the same impact” as before.

File photo dated 07-08-2022 of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham. Issue date: Friday October 21, 2022.
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo

“He had not been a significant part of this season. Only one goal was scored and he’d even left some games early – which led to him one point being banished from the team for a while.

“But boy, United fans remember him for this second spell at the club over the first period when he really made his mark from 2003 to 2009, winning Champions League Premier titles and being part of that Alex Ferguson period of dominance.”

Ronaldo is now in Qatar, focusing on his Portugal team who start their World Cup campaign on Thursday against Ghana.

Harris says Ronaldo will not be looking for a new club – it is not known if United will have to pay up the rest of the contract.

Manchester United were understood to be “extremely disappointed” with Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan and initially said it would be “considering its response” to the interview.

After seeing the interview in full, the club’s lawyers were understood to be looking at how to bring his time at the club to an end.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with the Portuguese team at Lisbon airport to depart for the World Cup in Qatar. Pic: AP
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Ronaldo arrives with the Portuguese team at Lisbon airport to depart for the World Cup in Qatar. Pic: AP

Ronaldo claims he’s ‘bullet-proof’

The Portugal star responded to criticism of his comments after arriving in Qatar, and was defiant, telling a news conference: “I am bullet-proof, I wear an iron suit.

“From your side, it is easy to look at how we can choose timings. Sometimes you write truths, sometimes you write lies. I don’t have to worry about what others think.”

He also insisted that the awkward handshake between him and attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes following the interview was actually a joke between the teammates.

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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has defended his explosive Manchester United interview, saying that it

Did Ronaldo ‘engineer’ his departure?

The Portuguese superstar earns a salary reported to be between £400,000 and £500,000 a week as part of a contract that runs until the end of the season, and he’s at an age where United couldn’t expect a big fee to buy him in the January transfer window.

Jamie Singer, a partner at sports law specialists Onside Law, told Sky News: “When you’re using language like ‘betrayal’ in respect of the club, it’s not going to be hard to demonstrate there’s been a breach of contract.”

But before Ronaldo had his contract ripped up, he speculated that: “You could have a situation where both parties would not be unhappy about a termination, and it appears that perhaps Ronaldo may be engineering that.”

In September, Ronaldo was charged with “improper and/or violent” conduct after a video emerged appearing to show him knocking a fan’s mobile phone to the ground.

In October, he was punished by his manager for refusing to play against Tottenham.

After that incident, Ronaldo later admitted on Instagram that “sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us”.

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UK weather: Bank holiday thunderstorm warnings in force for large parts of UK

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UK weather: Bank holiday thunderstorm warnings in force for large parts of UK

Thunderstorm warnings have been issued for large parts of the country, lasting from lunchtime until Monday night.

The Met Office says thunder and heavy downpours could cause flooding and travel problems.

Southeast England – including Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and south London – could be affected from noon, says the forecaster.

Other areas affected are mid-Wales and most of northern England, stretching up past Glasgow into southwest Scotland.

That warning is in force from 1pm – with both alerts ending at 9pm.

Pic: Met Office
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Pic: Met Office

Pic: Met Office
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Pic: Met Office

“Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures,” says the Met Office, while there is also a small chance that roads and properties could be flooded.

Bank Holiday Monday has brought a grey and cloudy start for many, with forecasts ranging from 12C (53F) in the Hebrides to 18C (64F) in northern England at 1pm.

Get the latest Sky News forecast for where you live

However, it will become warmer, brighter and drier from Tuesday with high pressure forecast for much of the UK – and it should stay that way for next weekend.

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London is expected to have 23C (73F) with sunny spells next Saturday and Sunday, according to the Met Office.

Highs of 20C (68F) are forecast in Edinburgh, while Cardiff is set for sunshine and 19C (66F), and Belfast likely to struggle with cloud but still feeling warm with a maximum of 20C.

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Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, dies aged 38

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Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, dies aged 38

Kris Hallenga, the founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, has died aged 38.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23 and lived with the illness for 15 years, tirelessly campaigning for breast cancer awareness in that time.

A statement on the charity’s website said: “She hasn’t lost a battle, she wasn’t in a fight and she certainly wouldn’t want you to see her death as tragic.

“She was simply living. She was 38 and died with fulfilment and a heart full of love.”

Ms Hallenga’s breast cancer was terminal by the time it was diagnosed in 2009.

“Kris’ ambition was for no one else to find themselves in her position and so CoppaFeel! was born, to ensure breast cancers are diagnosed early and accurately,” the charity said.

Describing her as “founder, boob chief, colleague, friend and queen of glittering turds”, CoppaFeel! said she was “the biggest promoter of being ‘alive to do those things'”.

“She approached life in a wildly creative, fun and fearless way, and showed us that it is possible to live life to the full with cancer.”

Last year Ms Hallenga threw a living funeral, where guests were invited to sign a cardboard replica of her coffin and childhood footage was projected around Truro Cathedral in Cornwall.

Dawn French did the eulogy in character as the Vicar of Dibley, while Ms Hallenga gave a speech and sparkled in a glittery jumpsuit.

Afterwards, she posted on Instagram: “I’ve never felt love like it. I’ve never felt joy like it. I’ve never felt such kinship with mortality. I’ve never felt so alive.”

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Women aged 18 to 25 urged to check for breast cancer
Women diagnosed young have higher risk of breast cancer spreading

Ms Hallenga campaigned for cancer education to be included in the school curriculum, won the Women of the Year Outstanding Young Campaigner award, received an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University and wrote a memoir titled Glittering a Turd.

A post on her Instagram page announcing the news to her 146,000 followers was signed off by her cat Lady Marmalade.

It said: “Her final message from her to you would be one that probably involved checking your chest, getting in some cold water, talking more about death and dying, that even the turdiest of turds are glitterable, that you should always see the silly side of life, that she LOVED her life and that giving Neighbours 2.0 is worth another chance.”

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West Ham agree deal to replace David Moyes at end of season

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West Ham agree deal to replace David Moyes at end of season

West Ham have agreed a deal in principle with Julen Lopetegui to take over from David Moyes as manager at the end of the season, Sky Sports News understands.

Lopetegui, 57, has been out of work since leaving Wolves three days before the start of the season but has stayed in England in the hope of landing another job in the Premier League.

The Spaniard, who has also managed Porto, Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla during an illustrious coaching career, looks set to take charge at the London Stadium at the end of the season after Moyes’ expected departure.

File photo dated 29-07-2023 of Julen Lopetegui. Wolves parted company with head coach Julen Lopetegui. Issue date: Thursday November 14, 2023.
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Julen Lopetegui. File pic: PA

West Ham are ninth in the league after Sunday’s 5-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Moyes, 61, who is out of contract in the summer, has faced increased questions about his future as his team have won only one of their previous nine league games.

He said he felt “really sorry” for West Ham fans after watching his side fall to a heavy loss at Stamford Bridge.

He said: “The fans have been great but I feel bad for them.

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“I don’t normally have teams who get beaten like this but we are lacking some ingredients – mental toughness and leadership to get better results, or at least not get hammered.

West Ham United manager David Moyes during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. Picture date: Sunday May 5, 2024.
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West Ham United manager David Moyes during the Premier League defeat at Chelsea. Pic PA

“The fans played their part and I can only say I’m really sorry for how it played out.”

Asked if he was frustrated that the club was regularly being linked with other managers, he said: “I’ll talk to the board at the end of the season. We’ll do that then.”

The Scot, whose second spell as Hammers boss began in 2019, led the club to their Premier League points total of 65 in 2021, finishing in sixth place.

The following year they finished seventh and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.

They went one better last year, winning the Europa Conference League final, the club’s first European trophy since 1965.

In November, Lopetegui told Sky Sports News he had unfinished business in the Premier League.

He said: “It’s why I’ve said no to different countries and different situations because I would like to stay here in England. I feel like our team here is just starting and we want to achieve our dreams.

“The way the country lives football here is special – it’s the best league in the world, the most competitive league in the world, the best environment for the players, coaches and fans too.”

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