Cristiano Ronaldo’s importance - or lack thereof - to Manchester United came under the microscope again this week following their defeat at Newcastle.
For much of the time since his acrimonious departure, Erik ten Hag’s side have coped just fine without him. In fact, the 2023 vintage sans Ronaldo, has unquestionably been a better side than the team that included him.
However, the cracks have started to appear. Defeat at St James’ Park means it is now just two wins in their last six league games, with their iron fist grip on a top-four place loosening by the week.
It also brought up three Premier League games on the spin where United have failed to score, a barren run coming at the worst possible time for the Red Devils. That means United’s attacking options are being questioned again, particularly the impact of January signing Wout Weghorst.
The Dutchman, signed on loan for the rest of the season, has failed to hit the heights, scoring just two goals in 19 appearances. Gary Neville, speaking on Monday Night Football, argued that while Weghorst couldn’t lace Ronaldo’s boots, his presence in the team has actually profited United more.
He explained: “Weghorst has 12 wins, four draws, three defeats, he has only scored two goals but the team has scored 37 goals, with Ronaldo it was 19 starts, they won three less games, drawn three, lost four more with him in the team, he scored 11 but the team itself only scored 23, they are massive differences.
“It is the strangeness of football is having a player who isn’t good enough to be a Manchester United forward but has brought more profit to the team. I believe he (Ronaldo) is the greatest player of all time.”
Pushed by Jamie Carragher on whether Neville would prefer the misfiring Weghorst over Ronaldo - now with Al-Nassr - the United legend refused to give a straight answer. But before the Carrington crisis talks, the Piers Morgan sit downs and the Saudi switch, Ronaldo had intended on honouring his contract until at least the end of this season.
In March of last year, more than six months before his explosive exit, the Athletic reported that Ronaldo had made transfer requests to the board that would make his own job easier. At that point, it was suggested the Portuguese veteran wanted another superstar striker to share the goal scoring burden and do some of the leg-work his advancing years would make difficult.
United and Ten Hag agreed, placing all of their eggs in a Darwin Nunez shaped basket. The Uruguayan was purported to be at the top of their wishlist, with a belief a deal was possible. That hope remained in-tact for much of the spring, until out of nowhere, Liverpool struck an agreement to instead bring him to Anfield.
In a deal which could eventually reach £85million, Jurgen Klopp landed the striker with the kind of profile Ronaldo felt would get the best out of him. Nunez has no issues in holding the ball up, working the channels and stretching defences - aspects that in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo could no longer offer.
Ten Hag tried to utilise the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in that role, but it quickly became apparent it was an egotistical round peg in a very square hole. Alas, the United boss had no choice but to drop him from the starting XI and set in motion the discontent that would result in his exit.
Ironically, United remain in the market for the very type of player Ronaldo recommended. But had it not been for their arch rivals Liverpool, that transfer could have taken place with the wily veteran still in place.
