RON THE MENTOR
Ronaldo vows to stay at Old Trafford to help Ten Hag bring through the next generation
CRISTIANO RONALDO wants to help bring through the next generation of talent at Manchester United.
The striker has pledged to stick around at Old Trafford in order to help Erik Ten Hag restore the club to former glories.
And he believes investment in youth will be key - if they have the right guidance from senior professionals.
No one has achieved as much in the game for as many seasons as the 37-year-old, who continues to defy the advance of time.
His contribution of 24 goals in all competitions was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal campaign which saw United continue to slip off the pace set by the best.
Against that backdrop, his offer to add a mentoring role to the latest talent emerging from the academy will be music to the ears of boss Ten Hag and the United board.
“The new generation will be the new future for the club,” said Ronaldo. “And I’m in favour of giving opportunities to the young generation.
“But you have to help them as well to put it in the right spot. There is a lot of pressure playing in the Premier League, which is the most difficult in the world by far.
“You have to give them time and the opportunity and let them grow in a normal way without pressure.
“We should give opportunities to the young generation of course but they have to understand to achieve success you have to do it with sacrifice, hard work, an ethic of work and dedication.
“If the kids ask me for advice I will give my opinion because I want to help.”
United initiated a restructuring of their academy two years ago when Nick Cox was appointed as the overall director, reporting to now football director John Murtough.
Cox heads up both the coaching programme and the operational services, including sports science, education and analysis.
There is a growing belief at United that the emerging generation could be a decent crop, with the under-18s lifting the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford last month evidence of that.
Anthony Elanga made the breakthrough this season from the under-23s to regular first-team action, but the Reds will want to see more follow next term.
Alejandro Garnacho, who earned a senior call up for Argentina in March, is considered one of the brightest prospects in the academy and got himself to the fringes of the first team under Ralf Rangnick.
Ronaldo believes he has up to three years left at the top and will be an essential ally for Ten Hag as the Dutchman tries to put his mark on the club. The pair have an incredible attention to detail and ferocious work ethic in their DNA, which bodes well for their relationship.
Ronaldo added: “It’s still my motivation to carry on working hard, to still have the passion for the game, and of course Manchester and my team-mates help me all the way so I have to appreciate that help.”