Graeme Souness insists Cristiano Ronaldo is being shown disrespect as Erik ten Hag leaves him on the Manchester United bench.
The Portuguese star was an unused substitute in the Manchester derby defeat as the Red Devils conceded six. They found themselves 4-0 down by the break but Ten Hag opted to use all five of his substitutes and not bring on Ronaldo.
The United boss claimed he didn't introduce his No.7 out of respect for his career, but that argument has not gone down well with a number of former players and pundits. His being sidelined comes after Ronaldo made it clear he wanted out in the summer, but United maintained he wouldn't be sold and stood firm on their stance.
So far this term, in seven Premier League games, Ronaldo has only started once, coming off the bench a further five times. Souness insists the 37-year-old is arguably the greatest player in history and is being disrespected by United.
He said on TalkSport : "Ronaldo has an argument, he can sit with any group of players in the history of the game, if they’re still alive, he can sit in any room with any of them and say ‘I think I’m the best player ever’ he has an argument for that.
"The disrespect they’re showing him now, I don’t see the point in going through the aggravation which they have done making him stay to not use him.
"It’s disrespectful not to use him. I don’t buy that [it’s disrespectful to play him], I think you’re showing more disrespect by not using them."
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That thought was echoed by Roy Keane after Sunday's derby defeat. The Irishman has long been a defender of his former teammate, even if United have gone backwards since his arrival. He said on Sky Sports : "The manager held on to him. OK, he said he wanted options. But you don't hold on to Ronaldo to sit on the bench.
"He is one of the greatest players ever. He had options [to move in the summer]. This idea he didn't have options is rubbish. He had four or five good options.
"The big picture is that he [Ten Hag] is not going to play Ronaldo. It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on. United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo."
Ten Hag did explain his decision after the contest, also highlighting that Anthony Martial, whom he bought on instead and scored twice in the latter stages, was in need of minutes.
"I didn't bring him on out of respect for his big career," the Dutchman said at post-match. "And the other thing, there was then the advantage I could bring Antony Martial on. He needs the minutes but I don't want to point it out like that."
