Solskjær was United manager from 19 December 2018 to 21 November 2021, after being let go by the club.
Ronaldo joined the club for a second time at the age of 35 in the 2021 summer.
Speaking to The Athletic, Solskjær said, “It was a decision that was very difficult to turn down and I felt we had to take it, but it turned out wrong.
“It felt so right when he signed and the fans felt that at that Newcastle game when Old Trafford was rocking.
“He was still one of the best goalscorers in the world, he was looking strong.”
United lost 5-0 to Liverpool at Old Trafford in late October, and despite winning away 3-0 at Tottenham the following week, losses to Manchester City and Watford sealed Solskjær’s fate. “When I looked at the fixtures it was going to be a deciding period,” he said.
“When things didn’t go right, you could see certain players and egos come out. We beat Tottenham convincingly 3-0 away, but then we lost two games.”
Solskjær further stated that some of his players had inflated views of themselves.
“They weren’t as good as their own perception of themselves,” he said.
“I won’t name names, but I was very disappointed when a couple turned down the chance to be captain. I was also disappointed when others said they wouldn’t play or train because they wanted to force their way out.”
United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, is enduring a tough start to the season, as United have lost three of their opening five matches.
“I know what he’s going through. It’s a dream job, but it’s difficult,” Solskjær said.
“You’re dealing with humans with all their problems and backgrounds – this isn’t a computer simulation. But most are good professionals who want to do well. Some think about No 1 first, most think of the club.”
