Ralf Rangnick has told incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag that Cristiano Ronaldo does not want to play as a central striker, despite scoring 24 goals from that position this season.
The 37-year-old netted his 18th Premier League strike in Monday's emphatic 3-0 win against Brentford, producing a superb performance in what could be his final match at Old Trafford. While Ronaldo has one year remaining on his lucrative contract with the Red Devils, his future is uncertain ahead of Ten Hag's arrival from Ajax.
Interim manager Rangnick, however, believes that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner can certainly play a part for the Dutch tactician next season, but would prefer to play a different role. "The way that he played again tonight, not only because he scored a goal but he also won the penalty and helped defensively tonight, so why should he not be a player who could still be part of the squad and help the team?" the acclaimed German coach said post-match.
"But this is a question you have to ask Erik when he is here and it is also important how Cristiano sees himself and his position. Cristiano is not a central striker, he also does not want to play in that position. In order to not play central, you have to play with two strikers as we did in the last 15 minutes or in my first game against Crystal Palace or the second one against Norwich, and even in the second-half against Newcastle.
"But if you look at international football, there are not many top teams who play with two strikers. Most of the international top teams either play with three strikers or a false nine, so for me it’s not a question of position, it’s a question of what kind of quality players Manchester United have in the future."
One of Ronaldo's best displays during a difficulty campaign was away to Tottenham Hotspur, partnering Edinson Cavani in another 3-0 romp that proved to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's last hurrah. But with Cavani frequently absent this term, Mason Greenwood suspended by the club, Marcus Rashford out of form and Anthony Martial on loan at Sevilla, the United superstar has largely had to carry the attacking load alone.
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That predicament has left Rangnick - who will soon step into a consultancy role at the club - telling Ten Hag and his Old Trafford superiors to invest in two "quality strikers" during the summer transfer window, adding: "For me, it is a question of what players Manchester United have in the future. It is obvious United need two more quality strikers.
"Modern strikers do not necessarily have to be strikers. Liverpool or Manchester City have five or six top-class strikers. If you ask me if Gabriel Jesus or Jack Grealish is a winger or a striker, they can all play there. Mason Greenwood would have been one, then after the West Ham game he was no longer part of the squad. Anthony Martial was on loan and Edinson Cavani injured."
Ronaldo himself has not discussed his future publicly but thanked fans for their support at Old Trafford this season with a message on social media after the match. "Once again, great support from the stands. Let's take this opportunity of our last game of the season at Old Trafford to thank our amazing supporters, who endured a difficult season by our side and never abandoned us," the Portuguese wrote in an Instagram post.
"Thanks, guys. Your support means the world to us and our goal is to become better everyday, so that we can achieve what we all want: glory for Man. United!"
