The former Liverpool man thinks Ten Hag needs to make a statement
Jamie Carragher has suggested that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag should sell Cristiano Ronaldo as he could be a ‘massive problem’ next season.
The Portuguese captain scored 24 goals in all competition this season, but Liverpool legend Carragher has doubled down on his opinion that Ronaldo was ‘not a good signing’ and should be let go as an early statement at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag is expected to make a number of changes this summer after United’s disappointing campaign, with the Red Devils finishing sixth and recording their lowest points tally of the Premier League era.
‘That was not a good signing’
Carragher told The Overlap: “[Jurgen] Klopp comes into Liverpool straight away, they’d bought players under Brendan Rodgers that summer.
“I think [Christian] Benteke cost them about £35/40million. It was a few quid, he was a big signing, centre forward, and he was like ‘You’re not for me, out!’ And making that big bold decision straight away, it makes everyone sit up and think ‘Oh this fella takes this job seriously!’
“I’m convinced he’s [Ten Hag] got to do that with Ronaldo, whether he’s allowed to or not, and I’ve said this consistently throughout this season, that was not a good signing.
Jamie Carragher: "I’m convinced he’s [Ten Hag] got to do that with Ronaldo [make a statement and sell him], whether he’s allowed to or not, and I’ve said this consistently throughout this season, that was not a good signing." [overlap] #mufc
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) May 26, 2022
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, and I’m seen as criticising him – Ronaldo is a million times better than I could ever be, I couldn’t lace his boots, obviously, but I’m not saying that to be disrespectful to him, he’s amazing.
“But Ronaldo has never played in a team this bad, he’s played in some of the best teams and has the attitude of wanting to be the main man, trying to get the goals, driving people on, and when you’re in a great team, that’s something I’m seeing as a positive.
“When you’re not playing in a great team it can be something that is seen as a negative, and I think it has been a negative this season.”
Carragher suggests Ronaldo could be a ‘problem’
The former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit also believes that Ronaldo could be a ‘massive problem’ for United next season if he doesn’t play every game.
“Manchester United can’t go into next season with a centre forward who is going to be 38, even if he does score goals, that’s not right for Man United,” he added.
“United need to buy a striker, but who do you buy? Do you buy one who’s going to play, or one who’s going to sit on the bench? What do you do? If you buy a really good one then he has to play, and Ronaldo has to go on the bench.
“Ronaldo would be a massive problem for Manchester United next season if he wasn’t playing every week, we’ve seen it this season, even when he’s coming off and there were times where the manager was right to take him off or put him on the bench, but he’s kicked up a fuss.
“This is the most powerful he will ever be, the manager’s the most powerful the first day in the job, because he’s there and he should be able to make big decisions on the basis of that and I’d make that big decision as the other top managers have done that make everyone sit up and take notice.”
Ten Hag ‘can’t wait’ to work with Ronaldo
The Dutchman recently said that he can’t wait to work with Ronaldo, describing him as a ‘true winner and magnificent player’.
“I think he could appreciate the way we played. He is a true winner and a magnificent player. I can’t wait to work with him,” he said in his interview.
Related links:
- Erik ten Hag admits he cannot wait to work with ‘magnificent’ Cristiano Ronaldo
- Leaked photos show Cristiano Ronaldo wearing new Man Utd kits
- Paul Pogba’s barber hints at his next move ahead of Man United exit
