Pundit reveals why Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United this summer
Ole Gunner Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have been branded “weak” with regard to Cristiano Ronaldo and the Manchester United star will leave this summer, says Paul Merson.
Ronaldo made a shock return to the club last summer. He signed a two-year contract with the option to extend for a further year after leaving Juventus. The deal came like a bolt from the blue with Manchester City also keen on the 37-year-old.
But as soon as United got wind of City’s interest they pounced to get a deal done for the man adored by United fans.
His return was championed by Manchester United fans, but Merson always maintained Ronaldo was the wrong fit for the club.
The former Arsenal man maintains that stance, but he admits the veteran has been a hit at Old Trafford. And 18 goals in 31 games proves his return has been a success.
However, Merson says his success has been at the detriment to the rest of United’s forward line and he expects Ronaldo to leave this summer,
“You never know what Manchester United team’s going to turn up,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“I always thought the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t great. He gets a hat-trick on Saturday and everybody’s going mad, but put the ball in the box and Ronaldo will score goals. It’s simple.
“The header didn’t shock me one iota. He’s the best header of the ball in the world. He hangs in the air, but you’ve got to put the ball in the box.
“He’s not going to do two stepovers, beat two players and then smash the ball in the top corner – those days are gone. But put the ball in the box and the man is the best finisher there’s ever been. You can’t score that many goals if you’re not a good finisher.
“They have to win the league.”
Paul Merson says with Manchester United’s recruitment they need to be challenging but is unconvinced Cristiano Ronaldo can guide them to the title #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/NuqrFb9Flt
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 31, 2021
“Do I think he’ll still be there next season? No, absolutely not. I’d be shocked if he was still there. I don’t think the manager who’s coming in is going to be as soft. I don’t think it’s going to work with him. If you want to win the Premier League, that isn’t happening.”
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Rangnick branded ‘weak’
Merson has labelled the leadership at United “weak” and pointed the finger at former boss Solskjaer and Rangnick.
Merson added: “I thought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was weak, I think Ralf Rangnick is weak with the way it’s happened. Someone who’s coming in has got to be majorly strong. You’re not going to win the league with a 37-year-old up front in my opinion.
“The worrying thing for Man Utd is he’s their best player and top scorer. You can’t say he hasn’t been a success – he’s the top scorer at Man Utd, the biggest club in the world, and he’s 37. But you’ve got to put it in perspective – Man Utd are there to win trophies, not just make numbers up and try to get fourth.
“He’s probably done his job but him doing his job hasn’t helped anybody else. It might sound silly because he’s done well, but that means no one else has done well.”
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