David Beckham has admitted he hopes Cristiano Ronaldo remains at Manchester United for "another year or two" as question marks over his club future linger.
Ronaldo has been a shining light in an otherwise bleak campaign for the Red Devils, who know they have missed out on Champions League football before the season has even ended due to their recent dismal displays. The most recent outing saw them on the wrong end of a humiliating 4-0 drubbing away at Brighton & Hove Albion.
After the Seagulls notched their third of the evening, television cameras panned to Ronaldo - who stood alone on the halfway line watching the hosts wheel away in celebration. The Portugal skipper could do little more than laugh at his own side's failings.
However, Beckham has revealed that he has been impressed with the 37-year-old's performances this season. Speaking to Sky Sports while attending the Miami Grand Prix, the ex-England skipper explained: "He [Ronaldo] is still doing what he does best; scoring goals and creating.
"To be doing what he is doing at his age is really incredible, so hopefully it continues and he stays for another year or two," Beckham added. Ronaldo penned a two-year contract upon his arrival last summer, meaning he has another season left to run at Old Trafford.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has 18 goals in the Premier League alone this term but has been let down by others around him within the United dressing room.
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Chants of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' were sung from the away end at the Amex, though those words were almost certainly not aimed at Ronaldo - other big names within the side have plenty to answer for, one of whom is Bruno Fernandes.
Ronaldo's international teammate spoke honestly about the discontent from the travelling fans after the game. "I include myself in that. What we did today, what I did today, was not enough to be in a Man Utd shirt and I accept it," Fernandes conceded.
"The result is what it is. It is not good enough. They outplayed us. They always had a solution. Pressed us better and they deserved the result. A little bit of everything [went wrong]. Quality. Mentality. They deserved to win and we deserve to be in the position we are in now."
Ronaldo has previously spoken about how a club of United's stature should not be finishing outside of the top three, yet the Red Devils could still slump further and finish in sixth if West Ham win both of their last two fixtures.
