What if it was all Cristiano Ronaldo’s fault? The Portuguese are believed to be responsible for the failure of the project at Manchester United.
The arrival of a world-class player like Cristiano Ronaldo to a squad would normally be seen as a blessing, but Paul Merson believes the Portuguese superstar’s return to Old Trafford has derailed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans. The former Arsenal midfielder is confident the Norwegian coach had other tactical ideas in mind ahead of the striker’s arrival on deadline day. “I’m sorry for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He had a plan at the start of the season, having finished second last season, ”Merson wrote for Sky Sports.
Manchester United: Ronaldo ruined everything
“He chased after Jadon Sancho for a long time, brought him in, and he gave Edinson Cavani an extra year. You could see his plan: you play Cavani every other match, you have Sancho on one side, Marcus Rashford on the other, you have Mason Greenwood coming in and changing places, you have speed, power, energy, youth, skill, everything. Then, just before the start of the season, he receives Ronaldo. I think he threw everything out the window. From day one they weren’t a better team with Ronaldo. ”
Merson also believes that the only reason United signed Ronaldo was to prevent the latter from joining rivals Manchester City. “Everything snowballed for Solskjaer. He had a plan, and Ronaldo’s situation threw everything out the window, just before the start of the season, ”he continues. “They only went looking for him because they heard that Man City were after him. It’s not like United have called Juventus to ask if he’s available because Ronaldo is the missing link for United to win the Premier League. He is not. “
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