Cristiano Ronaldo has said he “wishes Manchester United well” after the club terminated his contract on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old in a statement of his own spoke about his love for the Premier League and its supporters.
But Ronaldo insisted it was the right time “to seek a new challenge”.
His statement read: “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.”
United decided to cancel the Portugal captain’s contract following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
In the two-part interview, Ronaldo claimed he had been “betrayed” by the club and has “no respect” for manager Erik ten Hag.