Richard Keys has blasted Cristiano Ronaldo and told him he is “part of the problem” at Manchester United.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last summer to much fanfare, but his arrival has failed to kick-start a concerted title challenge.
Having finished runners-up last term, United are way behind league leaders Manchester City and face a battle to secure a top four finish.
The 37-year-old has 14 goals in all competitions, including eight in the Premier League, but has now failed to score in his last six appearances.
It’s the Portuguese veteran’s longest goal drought for more than a decade, with question marks over his ability to still perform at the highest level.
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Interim boss Ralf Rangnick opted to leave Ronaldo out of his starting XI for the midweek draw with Burnley, instead preferring to start Edinson Cavani as the central striker.
Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure on the bench, only given a 20-minute cameo before storming down the tunnel after the full-time whistle.
Much has been made of Ronaldo’s on and off-field histrionics with the striker often showing signs of frustration with his younger team-mates.
Reports this week have claimed that he could cut short his two-year stay at United and look to leave in the summer.
And former Sky Sports anchor Keys, speaking on beIN Sports, has said that if Ronaldo is in fact settled on leaving the club, he should be moved on sooner rather than later.
“Jorge Mendes was talking to senior Manchester United executives about leaving at the end of the season,” Keys speculated. “My own view of that is that he should he leave now.
“I’ve been of the opinion all season long that I think he’s as much a part of the problem - not the whole problem - as anything and anybody else.
“The other night, when he went running down the tunnel at Turf Moor, having recently lectured everyone about being the leader he believes himself to be and that youngsters don’t do the sorts of things he does…how does that encourage team spirit in the dressing room?”
“That was not good to see,” co-host Andy Gray replied. “Totally wrong for him to do that. He’s obviously disappointed at not playing.
“He’s playing against Burnley, bottom of the league, he’s thinking ‘there’s a few goals in this for me’.
“He is 37 years of age and knows he’s running out of time to play top football. You want to try and play as many games as you can.”
Keys then interjected, adding: “That’s fine then, go and sign for Bournemouth and you’ll play every week.”
Ronaldo played the entire 90 minutes on Saturday against Southampton, but failed to score as United dropped more points in the race for a Champions League finish.
