Date published: Wednesday 23rd February 2022 1:16 – Will Ford
Cristiano Ronaldo is not the player Manchester United ‘expected’ on his return to Old Trafford this season.
The Portuguese international has scored 15 goals in 29 appearances for the Red Devils, but his return has reportedly led to discord within the squad.
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It’s been claimed there’s ongoing tension between Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire, and various other reports suggest other members of the squad are unhappy with the striker’s influence at the club.
And The Independent now claim that despite ‘a core of loyalists’ at United, there are ‘not as many as might be imagined’.
‘Some of them even admit they have not seen the player they expected’, the report reads.
Club insiders have seen ‘a 37-year-old struggling to adapt to an awful lot’, with one source saying, “it’s not 2009 anymore”.
It’s added that ‘Ronaldo cuts a frustrated figure’ and ‘many sources say there is credence to talk of tension between him and Maguire’.
The same report talks of Bruno Fernandes being “tactically anarchic” and explains how the United players feel manager Ralf Rangnick “shouts too much” after he “b*llocked them”.
The overall picture is described as one of a “difficult dressing room”.
But Rio Ferdinand sees the situation at United in a far more positive light.
“There is really a Debbie Downer on Rangnick and Man United, at the moment,” Ferdinand told his YouTube channel Vibe with Five.
“Yes, I think the fixture list, whilst he has been there, has been favourable to Man United. But only Man City have picked up more points since he has come.
“They have picked up 28 points. Man United have picked up 25, so he can’t be doing as badly as it is spoken about in the media. In terms of points, he is a pass, at the moment.
“Everyone is saying ‘Liverpool are flying’. Liverpool, oh my God, it’s Championship-winning form now’. They haven’t had as many points in the bag as Rangnick since he has been here.”