Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo asked to leave the club this summer, but Manchester United insist he is not for sale.
At the start of June, Ronaldo stated that he was “very happy” to stay at United and predicted that they would improve after a disastrous 2021/22 season.
The Portuguese captain, however, has changed his mind and wants to leave Old Trafford due to worries about trophies and transfers just one month later.
Twelve years after leaving Manchester for Real Madrid, the 37-year-old came back last summer and scored 24 goals to finish as the team’s leading scorer across all competitions.
Ronaldo had a successful season in front of goal, but the team had a terrible season. United didn’t win a trophy for the fifth straight season as they finished sixth in the Premier League.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has competed in the Champions League for 19 straight seasons, and it’s believed that United’s failure to make the tournament is a major factor in his desire to leave the club once more.
According to Vwin, Ronaldo’s future is certainly a distraction as United’s players try to win over new manager Erik ten Hag before the start of the Premier League season.
There are concerns about how Ronaldo will handle Erik ten Hag’s demands if he stays at Manchester United because he is expected to recreate the high-intensity style he used at Ajax.
Although former United defender Gary Neville has acknowledged that Ronaldo struggles to press, he believes Ten Hag will be looking for someone who can score 20 or more times.
Ronaldo’s 24-goal return dwarfed the performances of his teammates. Bruno Fernandes was the next-highest scorer for the team with ten goals, and Mason Greenwood with six.
Ronaldo, who was once a tricky and dynamic winger, has transformed into a productive No. 9, but he has demonstrated that he can still make good connections with players behind him.
Ten Hag might consider using the veteran like how he used Dusan Tadic when he was the manager of Ajax. When Ten Hag’s team made it to the Champions League semifinals in the 2018–19 season, Tadic played up front but worked well with Hakim Ziyech and David Neres on either wing and Donny van de Beek in the space behind him.
Finding the right players to fit around Ronaldo is essential if the 52-year-old is to implement a similar setup next season successfully. Ten Hag’s system worked perfectly because each player complemented the others.
Although neither Ole Gunnar Solskjaer nor Ralf Rangnick were able to find the right formula, Ten Hag would undoubtedly want his team to perform well with Ronaldo in it – at least during his first year in charge. Ronaldo has been in prolific form in front of goal.
Given his age, it might seem obvious, but Ronaldo’s experience will likely be even more crucial next season due to several high-profile departures and as Ten Hag gets comfortable.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and other veteran players Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani, and Juan Mata have all left Old Trafford. Ronaldo is now the club’s oldest and most senior player.
Last season, his 18 Premier League goals won United games, and he also helped his side advance to the UCL’s round of 16.
With several young players already present at the club and the possibility of more joining, Ronaldo’s expertise could be essential to Ten Hag’s success in his first season.
