Cristiano Ronaldo’s Departure Gives Erik Ten Hag Complete Control At Manchester United

Manchester United had a choice to make. Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial, and unauthorised, interview with Piers Morgan meant the Old Trafford club had to side with either their most recognisable, highest-paid player or their manager and ultimately they opted for the latter. Erik Ten Hag now has control.

In fact, Ronaldo’s hasty departure means Ten Hag has more power than any other Manchester United manager since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. United managers have been undermined by their own employers before when a difficult decision on a player was required, but Ten Hag is now clearly the one calling the shots.

The Ronaldo situation had become untenable. Any rational observer could see the 37-year-old had to be pushed out the door after publicly compromising the authority of his own manager, but Manchester United haven’t always made rational decisions of late. Indeed, the decision to re-sign Ronaldo in the first place was a rash one.

Ten Hag’s system requires a centre forward who can at least apply some pressure from the front, but Ronaldo’s fading physicality meant he was unable to do this. What’s more, the Portuguese forward appears to have lost some of the finishing instinct that made him one of the greatest goal-scorers of all-time. When Ronaldo had chances for United this season, he missed them more often than not.

It’s likely Manchester United will move for a new centre forward at some point in the near future with Ronaldo now gone. The 37-year-old’s weekly wage of £500,000 has been taken off the books and that could free up some funds for the signing of someone like Napoli’s Victor Osimhen who ticks many boxes for Ten Hag.

Until then, United can move forward without the distraction Ronaldo was providing during the first few months of the season. Marcus Rashford has found some much-needed form after a difficult 2021/22 season while Anthony Martial has shown glimpses of his suitability in a Ten Hag system. Manchester United have options.

While Manchester United are a long way from being the finished article under Ten Hag, there are signs that some of the Dutchman’s ideas and methods are starting to take root. The Old Trafford outfit are in contention to finish in the PremierPINC
League’s top four, which would be an achievement ahead of schedule in many respects.

There is still a long way to go until the end of the season, but United are on an upward trajectory and the departure of Ronaldo could accelerate their development. Ten Hag’s message will now be even stronger with players now aware that anyone who doesn’t absorb that message will be pushed out the door, no matter their status or reputation.

Ronaldo must surely regret returning to Manchester United for a second spell in the summer of 2021, but this is nothing compared to the relief almost certainly felt by those still at Old Trafford. Ronaldo came to embody everything United have got wrong in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Now, they can focus on the future again.