Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has dismissed notions that re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo has backfired.
The 37-year-old completed a miraculous return to Old Trafford last summer, signing a two-year deal after leaving Juventus.
And with 15 goals in all competitions, Ronaldo is comfortably the Red Devils’ top scorer, but there have been suggestions his presence has actually seen United regress.
Having finished as Premier League runners-up last term, the arrival of the iconic Portuguese international was hoped to be the final piece in the jigsaw.
However, despite his nine strikes in the league, United are way off the pace and facing a battle to finish in the top four.
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Since the turn of the year, Ronaldo has just one goal in his last ten appearances and was relegated to the bench for the recent draw with Burnley.
But Silvestre, who played almost 140 times with Ronaldo during his first stint in English football, has said the criticism has gone over the top, claiming “He’s Ronaldo…not God!”
“It’s normal [that he gets criticism] because with the name he carries, the expectation must be high, so it’s normal that he’ll get some stick,” Silvestre told bettingexpert.com. “The statistics this season are in his favour, especially with the team’s current form.
“It’s been a positive signing, even with the run of games where he hasn’t been scoring, but it happens. He’s Ronaldo… he’s not God!”
Finding a long-term successor for Ronaldo is believed to be on the agenda for United this summer, particularly with Edinson Cavani likely to move on.
Rangnick, who is set to take on a consultancy role in the summer said about signing a striker: "This is obvious. Edison's contract is running out in the summer, and the club needs the best possible centre forward. This is an obvious one. I think everyone is aware of that."
But Silvestre believes the club’s “ideal” signing would be bringing in West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, questioning whether his old team need an archetypal number nine.
“He would [be an ideal signing for United] because he could bring so much to the team,” he added. “He can protect the defence, that’s his number one task, but he can also break the lines through his passing and carrying the ball.
“He’s got a lot of energy, he’s powerful and he’s English, so he’s ticking a lot of boxes. He’s also carrying a big price tag. If United can afford him then they should pursue him, 100 per cent.
“I’m not sure United need a number nine, we just need someone who scores,” the former defender explained. “When I say a number nine, I mean a typical target-man number nine, because we haven’t had one for a while, since the departure of Wayne [Rooney].”
