Cristiano Ronaldo will be the downfall of Manchester United this season.
That’s the bold verdict of former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor, who feels the Portuguese shouldn’t be in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI.
Ronaldo came to his team’s rescue in last night’s 3-2 win over Atalanta in the Champions League as he scored the winner at Old Trafford as the home side came from two goals down.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now scored six times for United since returning in the summer and has become an integral part of Solskjaer’s team.
When he was dropped for the 1-1 draw against Everton earlier in the season, the Norwegian boss came in for huge criticism from fans.
But with Marcus Rashford back in the side and an array of talent at his disposal in the form of Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, Agbonlahor feels Ronaldo’s playing style doesn’t suit the team.
Asked whether Ronaldo improves United as a team, Agbonlahor told Football Insider: ‘I don’t think he does.
‘People got carried away. Ronaldo was awful for Juventus last season. This season for Man United, he’s not scored many great goals. The one against Newcastle was the goalkeeper’s fault, it went through his legs. The Villareal one wasn’t anything special.
‘If you look at Man United, if I’m a Man United fan I want to see Greenwood down the middle, I want Rashford on the left and I want Sancho on the right, he’s better on the right. That’s my front three. In behind them, I want Pogba, Fernandes and Fred or McTominay.
‘Ronaldo doesn’t fit into the way that Manchester United want to play. The problem is, because of his profile and how good of a player he was, everyone feels like they’ve got to pass to him. They feel they’ve got to make a goal for Ronaldo.
‘He’s going to be the downfall of Man United, for me. It was a signing that was done for the fans and to stop him from going to Man City.
‘Let’s not be fooled, Ronaldo would have gone to Manchester City, 1000 per cent, he had probably already spoken to Manchester City.’
All eyes will be on Solskjaer’s team selection when United host Liverpool on Sunday.
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