Ralf Rangnick has serious doubts about Cristiano Ronaldo’s ability to lead Manchester United’s attack next season.
Rangnick’s patience with Ronaldo, who has only scored once in his previous ten games and appears to be losing confidence for the first time in his career, is wearing thin, according to sources.
Because of United’s lack of reliable goal scorers, Rangnick has not considered dropping Ronaldo. Edinson Cavani has scored twice this season despite missing the last five games with a groyne injury, while Marcus Rashford has five goals in four and a half months.
Ronaldo, who turned 37 on February 5, has started six of United’s seven games in 22 days this month, but has only scored once, against Brighton. In February, the Portuguese has 28 shots on goal, and he has been whistled offside more than any other Premier League player so far this season.
Ronaldo scored 14 goals in his first 20 games after rejoining United on deadline day, but he has only scored one goal in his last ten games. Ronaldo’s scoring slump was his worst since 2008-09, and it coincided with Ronaldo’s hip injury, which kept him out for two games in January. Cavani, the backup striker, has only played in one of the last seven games.
Rangnick, who will begin a two-year advisory role with United on July 1, has already stated that signing a younger striker in the summer is “clear.” Ronaldo’s contract expires next year, although United can extend it for another year. Cavani, who turned 35 on Valentine’s Day, has missed 22 of United’s 37 games this season, and his contract is set to expire in June.
Rashford has been dropped for the weekend draw with Watford after failing to halt his bad form. The 24-year-old scored ten goals for the club in 2021 and might make his second appearance on the bench in a league game at the Etihad on Sunday.
Anthony Elanga has been a standout under Rangnick, scoring three goals while playing on the wing. This weekend, the 19-year-old has a chance to make his derby debut.
