Is Cristiano Ronaldo the ?Problem? for Manchester United? Stats Reveal Interesting Results

The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was a breath of fresh air for all Manchester United clubs. It added to the transfer arrivals of long-time targets, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. However, three months later, things have been very complicated at Old Trafford.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fired from his position and Ralf Rangnick has come in to replace him as an interim manager. Ronaldo is still scoring goals for the club and has six UEFA Champions League goals in five games. However, the problems begin in the Premier League.

The club is currently sitting in 8th place in the Premier League table, and Ronaldo has only scored four goals in 10 games.

Samuel Luckhurst talks about the “problematic” Cristiano Ronaldo.

As a result, a few United fans have wondered whether Ronaldo can fit in this Manchester United team, especially with Rangnick coming in. The German manager puts an emphasis on pressing, and at the age of 36, Ronaldo might not be capable of that.

However, Samuel Luckhurst, the Chief Manchester United writer for the Manchester Evening News, disagrees with that opinion.

“Manchester United haven?t won any of the three games Ronaldo hasn?t started in this season, Ronaldo has scored in their three league wins since rejoining them – two of them winners – and his goals are responsible for all 10 points they?ve gained in the Champions League yet he?s a ?problem?,” Luckhurst said.

He gave the example of managers like Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane who had immensely successful teams with Ronaldo as their main man. The Portuguese forward wasn’t pressing much in those amazing Real Madrid teams. Luckhurst also added that Rangnick must make it work with Ronaldo in his eleven.

Did Manchester United sign Ronaldo “to prevent City from signing him”?

He also talked about the fact that Manchester City was planning to sign Ronaldo. Luckhurst presumed that United signed Ronaldo to prevent him from going to Manchester City.

“The strategy to sign Ronaldo was to prevent City from signing him (neither club will ever admit it) but it’s just as well United did. Cavani’s still brittle, Martial’s still out of form and Rashford missed three months and rarely plays through the middle on his own,” he concluded.

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