Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S ALL GONE RON
Ronaldo wanted to win trophies at United but his ambitions were thwarted by the club’s many failures
MANCHESTER UNITED cannot be surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s desire to leave after their worst season of the Premier League era.
When Ronaldo rejoined United last summer, amid a frenzy of hype and hysteria, he stressed he had returned to win trophies and not, in his own words, for “a holiday” in the twilight of his glittering career.
United had just finished second in the Premier League and, with Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho also arriving, there was the tangible prospect of a return to title contention.
And when Ronaldo marked his return by scoring twice in an emphatic 4-1 home win over Newcastle to put United top, it seemed his homecoming would have the perfect ending.
But that optimism swiftly evaporated as United’s form nosedived in the weeks that followed, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked on November 21 after a humiliating 4-1 defeat at Watford.
The regression continued, with United consigned to the Europa League after finishing sixth last season and without a signing so far this summer, with so many top players reluctant to join a club in turmoil. No wonder Ronaldo wants out.
He has waited for a show of intent from United in the transfer market, their failure to make a single signing making up his mind that he must go. Despite his 37 years, Ronaldo proved with
his 24-goal haul last season that he can still perform at the highest level and he is convinced he can play on until he is 40.
That belief, combined with United’s failure to match his ambition, is behind his desire to leave after just one season back.
The timing of Ronaldo’s request has undoubtedly caught United on the hop, despite his agent Jorge Mendes having met Chelsea owner Todd Boehly.
United publicly dismissed the Chelsea link, insisting Ronaldo was not for sale and reminding the football world that their most high-profile player was under contract for one more year.
They repeated that stance in the wake of the revelation Ronaldo wants to leave, but privately United know that
keeping him against his will would ultimately do more harm than good.
Yet Ronaldo’s expected departure may ultimately be beneficial to new United boss Erik ten Hag.
Despite his formidable goal haul last term, Ronaldo’s return caused problems within the United dressingroom, not least with a power struggle between him and skipper Harry Maguire.
Maguire felt undermined by Ronaldo’s presence as the leader within the group, with the Portugal star having positioned himself as the one setting the example for the younger players.
And Ronaldo’s frustrations were evident as far back as January, when he publicly called out United’s younger players for an unwillingness to turn to him for advice.
“This new generation, in general, don’t accept it if you criticise them,” said Ronaldo. “I’m here to help. When they need my support and advice, I’ll help.
“If you don’t want my help and my advice, do your job, look at yourself.”
In addition, Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, persuaded to stay an extra year with the promise he would lead United’s attack, found himself marginalised, with Ronaldo taking his No.7 shirt for good measure.
So for all the goals, shirt sales and social-media hits, Ronaldo’s much-heralded return has not had the fairytale ending for which the club yearned. Second time around, the Theatre of Dreams has proved a nightmare for one of United’s most iconic players.