Jadon Sancho needs to learn from Cristiano Ronaldo if he wants to improve at Manchester United.
That's according to former Red Devils star Alan Smith, who is concerned the former Borussia Dortmund forward isn't making the most of the opportunity available to him at Old Trafford.
The news comes amid claims Ronaldo recent joined a WhatsApp group in a bid to communicate better with the younger players at United following his controversial Sky Sports interview in which he suggested certain individuals at the club can't take criticism.
United signed Sancho in the summer transfer window, with then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parting with £73million to land the up and coming England international.
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But Sancho has struggled to hit the ground running at United, and Smith thinks he needs to learn from an experienced head like Ronaldo - just like the Portugal star did when he first arrived at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Offer.Bets, Smith said: "I think the difficulty going to Man United is that people feel they have to show how good they are, but I think it’s actually the opposite; you need to show the commitment and the hunger to improve, as he obviously is doing.
"With young players, you get inconsistency – that's only natural.
"He will also need the support of experienced players to help him along, and he's got certain players around him at the club that he needs to look to in order to keep improving, and I’m sure that is what he's trying to do.
"When Cristiano first came, it took him time to get used to the league – the pace of it, the physicality, getting kicked all the time, that kind of learning curve.
"You've always got to try and learn from your experienced players, as there's a reason that they've been around for so long, and they will expect and demand off other people.
"He's been given a run of games now, and I think that consistency will come now he's feeling a bit more settled."
Ronaldo ruffled some feathers at United last month when he suggested certain individuals at the club don't like criticism and are unwilling to take his advice.
He told Sky Sports: "I can remember when I was 18, 19, 20, some older players spoke to me but I put that as 'Cristiano, you have to improve, they know more than you, they are more experienced than you, they passed through many bad moments'.
"But the other people do not accept that if you criticise them - I don't say this generation of our players but in general, I have kids, I know. Sometimes if you be a little bit harder they do the opposite. You have to find the right balance to speak with them.
"But in my opinion, the main point is it should come from inside you.
"You should be proud of yourself and look in the mirror and say 'Listen, I give everything,' and I think all of us should do that because new year, we change the page and we have many things to win.
"We have to believe in that, if not, it will be a nightmare."
Ronaldo has since, as aforementioned, joined a WhatsApp group in a bid to unite the dressing room, according to The Sun.
