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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Cristiano Ronaldo hears brutal home truths after controversial Man Utd comments backfire

Cristiano Ronaldo is not a good role model for the youngster players at Manchester United.

That's according to Paul Ince, who has criticised the Portugal international for throwing his toys out of the pram and storming down the tunnel whenever things go wrong.

Ronaldo was criticised for ignoring the travelling United fans at Burnley last week following his side's 1-1 draw at Turf Moor and heading straight for the dressing room after the game.

His actions came not long after he claimed some of the younger players at Man United refuse to take his advice and instead perceive his observations as criticism.

Ince was hopeful that Ronaldo's return to United would benefit the up and coming youngsters at Old Trafford.

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Cristiano Ronaldo stormed off down the tunnel after the draw with Burnley (Getty Images)

But he reckons the 37-year-old's response to the current crisis has had the opposite effect.

"This is not the Ronaldo of 19 years ago when he was first at Old Trafford - this is a 37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo," former Man United midfielder Ince told Genting Casino.

"When people say he'll be great for the club and the youngsters, you'd have thought that would be the case. But he's walking off down the tunnel and throwing his toys out of the pram.

"For me, that's a bad example. This is someone at the end of his career and if he can't start against Burnley who are bottom of the table there's something seriously wrong. It should be about the team, but it's now become all about Ronaldo."

Ronaldo controversially hit out at some of his younger teammates prior to the Burnley game, claiming that when he was starting out at United he always listened to the more experienced heads.

"I can remember when I was 18, 19, 20, some older players spoke to me but I put that as 'Cristiano, you have to improve, they know more than you, they are more experienced than you, they passed through many bad moments,'" Ronaldo told Sky Sports.

"But the other people do not accept that if you criticise them - I don't say this generation of our players but in general, I have kids, I know. Sometimes if you be a little bit harder they do the opposite. You have to find the right balance to speak with them.

Paul Ince doesn't believe Ronaldo has been a good role model to youngster players at United (Sunday Mirror)

"But in my opinion, the main point is it should come from inside you. You should be proud of yourself and look in the mirror and say 'Listen, I give everything,' and I think all of us should do that because new year, we change the page and we have many things to win.

"We have to believe in that, if not, it will be a nightmare."

Ronaldo's comments didn't go down too well among his teammates, and his actions since, as highlighted by Ince, won't have done much to improve relations.

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