Brian Cox Tells Piers Morgan That Cristiano Ronaldo Team Drama Is 'Tragic'

Succession star Brian Cox is weighing in on the fallout from Cristiano Ronaldo's public brawl with Manchester United. He called the ordeal "tragic" during an episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored that aired on Tuesday.

The 76-year-old actor is reportedly a Manchester United fan and once portrayed the team's famed manager Sir Matt Busby in a film. He told host Piers Morgan in the Tuesday interview that in recent years, the club has endured "so many changes."

"Manchester United has not been playing well over the last few years, but it's beginning to get its mojo back. And I think it's unfortunate that this has happened," Cox said, referring to Ronaldo's scuffles with the team.

Morgan then interjected to ask whether Ronaldo is "entitled to speak out."

Cox replied: "Well, of course he's entitled to speak out. But also, one has to examine exactly where he's coming from, and I think he's coming from a place where he's saying, you know, 'I wanted to go back to the beginning. I wanted to go back to the glory days when I was a young boy.'"

The actor later continued: "It's quite tragic, actually. It's tragic for him, but it's also tragic for the club. And I think the club has to be given a break on this."

Cox's comments coincide with the news on Tuesday that Manchester United and Ronaldo are parting ways "with immediate effect," according to CNN. The announcement follows Ronaldo's bombshell interview that aired on Piers Morgan Uncensored last week.

Manchester United insisted that the decision was a mutual one in a statement.

"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," the statement said, per CNN.

During his recent interview with Morgan, Ronaldo revealed that he felt "betrayed" by some of the club's top brass, and that he felt as though he was getting forced out.

"Yes, I feel betrayed and I felt that some people don't want me here, not only this year but last year too," he said at the time.

The 37-year-old striker also said he doesn't respect the club's manager ("he doesn't show respect for me") and suggested that the club needed to begin completely anew.

"As Picasso said, 'You've to destroy it to rebuild it,'" Ronaldo said, "and if they start with me, for me, it's not a problem. A club of this size should be at the top, but this is not the case. There is no excuses."

Newsweek reached out to representatives for Cox and Ronaldo for comment.

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