Patice Evra claims that Cristiano Ronaldo was made to be a "scapegoat" at Juventus before he left to rejoin Manchester United.
Ronaldo is now enduring similar criticism back at Old Trafford due to his lack of contribution off the ball.
Evra's comments show that the 36-year-old has endured flack before, which the Frenchman says was "hypocritical."
"Cristiano needs love and respect," Evra told La Repubblica, having spent three-and-a-half years alongside Ronaldo under Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Instead, at Juve, he was becoming the scapegoat.
"The criticisms in Italy have been ridiculous and a bit hypocritical. [It was a] mistake when [Massimiliano] Allegri said: 'Cristiano will not play all the games'.
"There is no need to say things in public. In any case, Cristiano's only true love is Manchester United."
Juventus paid Real Madrid £105million for Ronaldo's services in 2018, hoping the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would fire them to an allusive Champions League crown.
But despite the forward's goals and talismanic presence, he was unable to complete his mission.
Although, Evra believes there is a more systemic reason why a team from Italy last won Europe's elite competition 11 years ago.
"In Italy you train too much," the ex-Red Devils left-back, who played for the Bianconeri between 2014 and 2017, said.
"If the right balance were found, the Italian teams could often win the Champions League.
"Instead, it pushes everything to the extreme. For me it is a sign of insecurity."
However, Ronaldo did pick up two Serie A titles during his three years in Turin, as well as becoming the quickest player in history to reach 100 goals for Juventus.
In the final days of the summer transfer window, the Portugal captain informed the Allianz Stadium hierarchy of his desire to leave, ultimately returning to Manchester in a sensational move on transfer deadline day.
Ronaldo has scored six goals in nine appearances but his lack of pressing has been criticised by pundits and opposition fans alike, with some claiming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side have become worse as a result of his return.
Has Ronaldo made Man Utd worse? Give us your verdict here.
Following his largely anonymous display in United's recent 4-2 defeat to Leicester City, though, Ronaldo was defended by his manager.
"We’ve got 11 players on the pitch with different roles and responsibilities," Solskjaer explained.
"We put a team out there that we think is going to win that game, we didn’t win against Leicester so there’s always going to be criticism.
"Cristiano is an absolute top player and we know what he can do for us and he’s doing everything he can do to help the team."
