Manchester United should not have welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, according to Liverpool star Jamie Carragher.
Cristiano Ronaldo is not just one of the greatest players to ever play for Manchester United, but also one of the greatest players in history. Despite his age, the Portuguese international continues to dazzle and is regarded as one of Europe’s best players.
Ronaldo has undoubtedly been the Red Devils’ best player this season, leading the club’s scoring charts in all competitions with 15 goals in 27 appearances. There is a case to be made that the veteran has been Manchester United’s finest player this season and that the club would have fared worse without him.
That, however, is not a sentiment shared by everybody. According to The Telegraph, Jamie Carragher believes otherwise, arguing that the Red Devils made a mistake in re-signing Ronaldo last summer. The Liverpool icon goes on to say that if United maintains Ronaldo for the 2022/23 season, they will be making an even worse mistake.
“Re-signing Ronaldo last summer was a mistake for Manchester United.” Keeping him next season will be a harder challenge.”
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Carragher believes Manchester United was a better all-around team last season without Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2020/21, the Red Devils scored 121 goals across all competitions, their highest total in 14 years. The same cannot be said of the current campaign, with the team failing to reach the same heights on a regular basis.
“In 2020-21, United scored 121 in all competitions, their greatest tally in 14 years, since they were a more balanced, unified team than they are now.”
There’s no denying that Ronaldo is a brilliant player who, more often than not, is a match-winner on his own. However, Carragher is correct when he claims that the team has become more Ronaldo-centric this season. This shifted the emphasis away from the collective unit, making them more predictable in the last third.
Furthermore, while re-signing Ronaldo would undoubtedly appeal to supporters, it may jeopardize the growth of others around him. Jadon Sancho has struggled, while the brilliant Amad Diallo has since been loaned out. The 37-year-legacy old’s at the Theatre of Dreams remains intact, but his return was more of a tribute to the past than a team focused on the future.
“If his United reunion is only for one season, letting him go will solve more difficulties than it will create.”
The Portuguese star has one year left on his contract, with the option for a third. As things are, it’s difficult to see the club break ways with Ronaldo in the summer. While Carragher’s views can be brushed aside, the Red Devils would be wise to listen to him even if they do not act on his advice. Manchester United must ensure that the interests of the team take precedence above the demands of any individual, no matter how well-known.
