Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, received little playing time during the autumn under Erik ten Hag’s management at Manchester United, and broke before the Qatar World Cup with the English big club to instead sign for Saudi Al-Nassr.
Now Manchester United icon Eric Cantona is coming out and believes that Ronaldo needs to respect his age and focus on helping young players.
– I think there are two different types of players at the end of their careers. I decided to quit early, which is one way, and then there are players who play until they are 40 years old. There are some who want to play every game, as they think they are 25 years old and cannot realize that they are not 25 anymore and then there are some who help young players. They know they won’t play every game, but some games,” Cantona told the English newspaper Manchester Evening News and continued:
– Their part is to help young players, as Zlatan Ibrahimovic does in Milan and as Ryan Giggs and Paolo Maldini did. I don’t think Ronaldo realizes that he is not 25 years old. He is older now and should be happy to play some games.
At the same time, Cantona respects the fact that it is difficult to realize that one’s career is about to end.
– I have to accept that I will die one day. It’s hard to accept it, but we have to. And the end of a career is like dying. It’s a small death.
Ronaldo was this season noted for a goal in ten games in the Premier League.
