Manchester United Can Live Without Cristiano Ronaldo

After the long drawn out episode with Cristiano Ronaldo’s groundbreaking interview on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored, Manchester United released a statement to say there are exploring their next steps.

It is to be believed that the Red Devils have had enough with Cristiano Ronaldo and that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back so-to-speak. Erik Ten Hag has made it very well known, privately, that he would like to be rid of Ronaldo’s services, and was petitioning for such a move last summer.

Ronaldo has since come out to Piers Morgan and stated that he does not have respect from the Manchester United manager, who he finds contradictory.

It is clear to see that Ronaldo has provoked the club he grew into becoming one of the best players of all-time in to making a decision for him on his future. The Red Devils are investigating ways into breaking off his contract without having to pay the remaining salary away.

Ronaldo wants to leave – which he has made abundantly clear – and will get his wish. There is no possible scenario where the Portugal international can walk back into the Carrington Training Complex and resume work under Ten Hag, who he has criticised and undermined publicly.

Manchester United, on the whole, have shown how they perform better with Ronaldo out of the side. It is no coincidence that the Red Devils are more pleasing on the eye, as well as more effective, backed up by stats, when Ronaldo is not in the line-up.

While he might have contributed to 27 goals in all competitions last season, Manchester United – by bringing Ten Hag in to the fold – have moved on from curating a team for Ronaldo’s play. They are on a new journey which does not revolve around one player, but instead works as a driven collective.

Fans will move past these shenanigans that have played out so publicly in due course, but it does put a stain on his time at Manchester United. For a player with so much grace shown on the pitch throughout his career, these past few months have been unsavoury to say the least. Which is why Ten Hag was right in wanting to move the Portugal captain on.

The Dutch manager has acted with grace throughout and been very forthright in his opinions during this turbulent period. He has remained committed and focussed on getting results and improvements out of the players he has, while bringing in four signings (Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Antony) that have been excellent under him so far.

The best outcome out of all of this will be to see the back of Ronaldo post-World Cup. Manchester United hold the keys to make that happen and will want to act accordingly and professionally throughout.

Ronaldo raised some interesting points regarding the ownership of the club, which will not be glossed over by fans, but he will get his overarching wish of leaving Manchester.