Jamie Carragher insists it would be a mistake for Manchester United to retain Cristiano Ronaldo's services next season.
The Portuguese star made a sensational return to Old Trafford in the summer following 12 years away.
His move back to Manchester started with a brace on his second debut against Newcastle United, but things have declined since then.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has lost his job and there is a sense that Ronaldo's presence has upset the team's dynamics.
At 37, he is also far from the long-term solution United are seeking, despite being their top scorer this term.
Ronaldo ended his longest goal drought in over a decade this week as he netted against Brighton at Old Trafford.
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Despite that Carragher is adamant that United cannot evolve with the modern game whilst the Portuguese star remains their central point of attack.
" Cristiano Ronaldo ’s invaluable contribution to Manchester United ’s Premier League win over Brighton was another reminder of his unparalleled appetite for goals," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
"But it does not change this reality: United made a mistake re-signing Ronaldo last summer. It will be a bigger one keeping him next season.
"My reservations about signing Ronaldo – which I first expressed last summer – are no reflection upon his talent and career.
"They are based on the obvious contrast between the individual skills he brings to a team at this moment, as a 37-year-old, and how the game has evolved tactically at the highest level to the point where the strongest European sides want a specific profile of a number nine, or in some cases play without one."
Ronaldo's name is also involved in several dressing rooms leaks that have underlined the problems in Manchester.
Often a senior figure at previous clubs, there have been rumours of a captaincy power struggle between the Portuguese star and Harry Maguire.
The current skipper is said to be frustrated by his teammate's growing influence - something he strongly denies.
Interim boss Ralf Rangnick has also hit back at such claims, insisting Maguire will continue to wear the armband despite his dip in form.
“Well to start with I must say, this is absolutely nonsense," said the German.
“I have never spoken to any player about a chance in captaincy, Harry is aware of that and Cristiano.
“It’s me who decides who is captain and I don’t have to talk to anyone else about that. Harry is our captain and he will stay our captain.”
