Raphaël Varane has admitted Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview – in which he criticised Manchester United’s owners and the manager, Erik ten Hag – has sent shockwaves through the squad. Ronaldo, speaking to Piers Morgan on TalkTV, announced he did not respect Ten Hag and claimed a number of individuals at United were trying to force him out. The 37‑year‑old forward also claimed the Glazer family, owners since 2005, did not care about the club. United are taking legal advice – and awaiting broadcast of the full interview – before issuing a response and while a statement did say their “focus remains on ... continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built”, the effects of the interview are clearly being felt by the rest of the United players. Varane, who is preparing for the World Cup with France, told the radio station Europe 1: “Obviously it affects us. We follow what is happening and what is being said. We try to calm the situation in our own way, we try not to get too involved in it. When it’s a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, even more so we try to take it with distance, that is to say that we do not try to change the situation alone, we are part of a collective. What I want is the best for my team so whatever the decision [by the club], as a player, we will accept it and give the best of ourselves.” With part one of Ronaldo’s interview being aired on Wednesday night, following the drip feed of social media snippets, the forward confirmed he had spoken with Sir Alex Ferguson before his return to United. Ronaldo was poised to join rivals Manchester City from Juventus but said a chat with his former manager changed his mind. “Well, honestly, it was close,” he said. “But as you know, my history in Manchester United, your heart, you’re feeling the way that you did before, makes the difference. And of course, as well, Sir Alex Ferguson. I think it was the key. It was the difference in that moment, but I cannot be loyal if I will, I wouldn’t say that Manchester City wasn’t close. “But I think, I did [make] a conscious decision. I don’t regret at some point. And as you mentioned before, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key. I spoke with him. He said to me ‘it’s impossible for you to come to Manchester City’. And I say ‘OK, boss’. So I took the decisions and I repeat, I was with conscience that it was a good decision.” Ronaldo also hit out at younger players making their way through the professional game, claiming “they don’t care”. “The new generation and the new technologies, they distract them. But they are not the same [in the way] that they listen but this is why we have two ears, as you listen from one side and they go away from another side,” he said. “So, it doesn’t surprise me. But in the same way it’s a little bit [of a] shame because if they have the best examples in front of [their] eyes, and if they don’t, at least copy what [they] did.” “Their hunger [is different],” he added. “I think they have things more easily, everything’s easy, they don’t suffer – and they don’t care. “They don’t care – some ones, yes, but most of them no. But for me that is not surprising because they are not going to have longevity in their careers. It is impossible. In my generation you see many players reach 36, 37, 38 at a high level and I think this generation you will count on one hand how many will reach that level.” Ronaldo missed training with Portugal on Wednesday because of a stomach bug. It caps an eventful week for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has also been involved in awkward exchanges with his international teammates, Bruno Fernandes and João Cancelo. Portugal will get their World Cup campaign under way next week against Ghana. Meanwhile, the France squad have announced they have pledged to financially support non‑governmental organisations and charities which work towards the protection of human rights. The World Cup has been tainted by the appalling lack of protection for migrant workers who have endured exploitative, even deadly, conditions as Qatar prepared for the tournament while the country’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights has also cast a long shadow over the event. “We are players, we have this way of expressing ourselves, but it’s human that we expressed this through this letter,” said Varane, France’s vice-captain.“It’s also a lot of light [shone] on us and we also want to express humanly what we feel.”