Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo would have undoubtedly received Sir Alex Ferguson's famous hairdryer treatment for his recent antics at Old Trafford.
With the Red Devils 2-0 up at home to Tottenham in what many have lauded as their best performance of the season, manager Erik ten Hag made the decision to bring on Anthony Elanga for Jadon Sancho in the 87th minute instead of Ronaldo who remained an unused substitute on Wednesday evening. The Portugal star clearly didn't take well to the decision, storming down the tunnel before the end of the game.
The incident has drawn criticism from across the globe, with fans calling for his exit after remaining a bit-part player so far this season - alongside praising Ten Hag for his authoritative manner that saw the Dutchman stamp his mark on any wrongdoing at the club by dropping him from Saturday's clash against Chelsea. And former centre-back Stam has claimed that whilst Ten Hag has alienated Ronaldo, his treatment is soft to what Ferguson would have given - claiming the Scot would have given the Real Madrid legend 'huge hairdryer treatment'.
"Yeah, you can't have that and I think it's a normal decision that Ten Hag has made," Stam told Sky Sports.
"He knows that as well, Ronaldo, because a player with his experience and quality, and what he has done, of course he's not happy that he is not playing which is normal. It needs to be like that, as he wouldn't be happy sitting on the bench. But he knows as well that by walking off the pitch and going home, it triggers a reaction. You get a response from the manager as well, and you don't want to go into the history books by being a player that is walking off the pitch because you're not happy playing.
"If you're talking about hairdryer treatment, it would've been a big hairdryer for that one! These are things that it is difficult for a manager, and he dealt with it, but it also difficult for the people within the club on how to approach him, what to do."
It is worth noting that Ferguson already had to deal with Ronaldo early in his career after his antics at the 2006 World Cup. With Portugal facing England in Gelsenkirchen, then-United teammate Wayne Rooney stamped on Ricardo Carvalho; leading Ronaldo to pester the referee for a red card, and giving his Portugal teammates a 'wink' after succeeding in his efforts.
Evidently, he hit turbulence upon his return to England, with some United fans ostracising the attacker for his actions.
But, as has been proved with Ferguson's soft spot for Ronaldo, there is evidence that he may have treated him differently to others.
"It is also difficult for the team and players. Players will still go to him and talk him of course, and he will probably go into that and make an excuse or his apologies, but there is still something in peoples minds that he has done it, and it is not good," Stam continued.
It remains to be seen where Ronaldo's future lies - though you would be inclined to believe it would not be in Manchester.
