Graeme Souness has urged Erik ten Hag to do all he can to keep Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United this summer.
Speculation continues over the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s future at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo having told United earlier this summer he wants to leave the club. The Portugal international has made his desire to continue playing Champions League football clear following the Reds’ failure to qualify for this season’s competition.
United though are adamant Ronaldo is not for sale, with the 37-year-old still holding a year on his contract following his return to the club last summer. Ronaldo though continues to be heavily linked with a move away before the end of the transfer window.
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The forward was in action on Sunday, coming on as a second-half substitute during United’s 2-1 opening day defeat to Brighton. Ronaldo cut a frustrated and animated figure on the bench as the Reds fell 2-0 down in the first half at Old Trafford.
In his absence, Christian Eriksen was deployed as a false nine, with Ten Hag’s plan proving unsuccessful. Former Liverpool midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Souness has therefore insisted the United boss needs to do all he can to retain Ronaldo’s services.
“A manager can only look to the next two or three games, time is not your friend,” Souness told talkSPORT. “If Ronaldo’s there you’ve got a chance of scoring goals that equates to winning games of football.
“Without Ronaldo there, who’s your goal-getter? Who’s going to be the difference in games? I don’t see anyone else being that man.
“I just think for having someone with that stature, that attitude to our game, you’ve got to have him there. I think the conversation should’ve been ‘I’m an enormous fan, I want you at the club, I love you, I love everything about you’, make him feel wanted.
“If I hear the manager is trying to sell me halfway through last year I’ve got the raging hump with the whole football club, I think it’s about getting him onside. These talents do not come around very often, Man United are not in a position of strength where they can reject Cristiano Ronaldo at this time and progress.”
Souness added: “Ronaldo at 37 is not the same player, but he’s got unbelievable qualities, still an intelligent player, sees where the danger is, gets himself in the right positions whether it’s standing still or on the move.
“Ronaldo cannot play every game, I would have promised him lots of game time but I want you here to be the man in the dressing room for me. If you’re a young player, who are you looking at and thinking ‘I want to be like him in five or 10 years’ time’? No one. With Ronaldo you’re looking at the ultimate, ultimate professional.”
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