Gary Neville has shockingly encouraged Manchester United to sell Cristiano Ronaldo before the end of the transfer season this summer.
Ronaldo, 37, rejoined the Red Devils a year ago following a dramatic turn of events that saw him leave Juventus and return to Old Trafford 13 years after leaving.
Although the five-time Ballon d’Or winner started his second season with a brace against Newcastle United, things have since soured, and the 37-year-old is said to want out following the team’s failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking on how the 20-time league champions should handle the situation, Neville has advised his old club to part ways with Ronaldo for the second time in club history, drawing analogies to Paul Pogba’s six-year stay.
“Let’s be clear: Ronaldo’s achievements in football go above and beyond,” Neville stated on the newest episode of Sky Sports’ ‘The Overlap.’
“To be fair, anything someone could ever want or dream. He will always be regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and what happens this summer at Manchester United will be forgotten in 20 years.
“But it’s unpleasant for me to look at the future Manchester United captain, the next Manchester United senior player, and think that the star player in the locker room is playing up right now.”
“Over the last few years, you had [Paul] Pogba’s agent, not necessarily Pogba all the time, but his agent always playing up with the club.” You can’t have your star player controlling the club.
“When Sir Alex Ferguson moved players on in the past, it was because they needed to be moved on.” Manchester United fans want Ronaldo to stay, but if he wants to leave, Manchester United, in my opinion, should make it happen.”
