I’d easily take EXCLUSIVE Mo over Ron, says Barnes

JOHN BARNES says there is no question that any manager would prefer to have Mo Salah in their team over an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo these days.

But the former Liverpool winger believes Jurgen Klopp’s key man still has a long way to go if he is to match the achievements of his Manchester United counterpart.

According to Barnes, only by building on a start to the season that has seen him score 12 times in 11 outings can Salah (right) truly cement himself as the best in the world.

He said: “The best player in the world has to be playing at that level for a season before you can say they’re the best player in the world.

“Of course, on current form from the start of the season, yes he is, but it’s a bit like whoever won the first four games of the season [asking] if they’re going to win the league.

“Ronaldo has been one of the best players in the world alongside Messi for the last 10 years.”

Asked which of the pair he would want in his team at Old Trafford today, Barnes added: “Would you rather have a 36-year-old player or a 29-year-old player at the top of his game? That’s fairly obvious.

“It’s not a slight on Ronaldo because Ronaldo has probably been better in his career than Salah has in his.

“Salah, over the coming years, may surpass that, we don’t know, but we’re talking about 2021 and I don’t think it’s disrespectful to say you’d rather have

Salah than Ronaldo.”

While Ronaldo has plundered six goals in eight games since his return to Old Trafford, questions have been raised over whether his inability to press is having a negative impact.

Barnes said: “I much prefer a well-balanced team than a player who’s going to score lots of goals if a team isn’t going to win or they can’t defend as well as a team.”