Michael Owen has claimed that Manchester United already had the solution to their goals problem before allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to leave for the second time.
United and Ronaldo parted ways last month following that bombshell interview in which the five-time Ballon d'Or winner slammed the club, Erik ten Hag and important figures associated with the club both past and present. As things stand, Ronaldo has yet to find himself a new team and the search for his replacement continues.
One proposed name in that regard, Cody Gakpo, appears set to sign for Liverpool instead with United expecting to utilise the loan market next month. However, when asked to share his thoughts on the Ronaldo saga, Owen said Ten Hag perhaps ought to have played him more.
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Owen was on Amazon Prime Video duty for the Premier League game between United and Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. He said: "That's the problem [scoring goals].
"I hear Ten Hag talking about Marcus Rashford probably needs to score 20 goals this, that and the other. Well, they had 20 goals sat right under his nose but, unfortunately, he was sat on the bench a lot of the time."
Owen added: "The way things were going, there had to be an end to it, but it didn't have to be like that. He could have played him every week and then he would have solved this problem of scoring goals and that's the point.
"You either play Cristiano Ronaldo every week and never bring him off, or you don't. If you don't, then he's no good at your club. He's not a substitute or a squad player."
After completing a grand return to Old Trafford last year, Ronaldo netted 24 goals in all competitions in his first season back. However, he only scored once in the Premier League before his departure this campaign.
Casting doubt on Rashford as a regular goalscorer, Owen continued: "Marcus Rashford is a big contributor, but he can not be your main goalscorer. He isn't going to be scoring you 30 goals a season like a Wayne Rooney or a Robin van Persie or lots of other great strikers over the years.
"He will contribute double figures every year from that left-hand side. If you said Manchester United were going to play him down the middle and he's going to be the main man, I would question it.
"I think he's a brilliant player and his stock has risen at the World Cup. It's great to see him back, but he contributes to this team. He's not your main man."
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