Rio Ferdinand believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure could help some Manchester United players come out of their shells.
Speculation has followed the five-time Ballon d’Or over his future at Old Trafford throughout the summer. The Portugal international told the club he wanted to leave earlier in the transfer window, partly owing to his desire to continue playing in the Champions League.
United have remained adamant that Ronaldo is not for sale, and denied reports this week that they could look to terminate his contract. The 37-year-old has cut a frustrated figure as the Reds have made a disastrous start to the season.
ALSO READ: United deny latest Cristiano Ronaldo reports about his future
And his former United teammate Ferdinand believes Ronaldo’s high standards could be weighing others in the squad down. Despite previously insisting the club should keep hold of Ronaldo, the former defender has suggested his departure could benefit some of his teammates.
“There’s two things: his reputation and is he weighing heavy on others’ shoulders? Is his energy about wanting to be there?” Ferdinand told his Vibe With Five podcast. “Roy Keane was a huge character, leader, aggressive, in people’s faces, very different to Cristiano but he had an aura around him that I felt, and players who I speak to suppress some people and players. Natural instincts, natural way of playing, the way they carry themselves in training, matches.
“The likes of John O’Shea, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher - he’ll tell you that himself. When he left, Roy Keane, they flourished as not only football players but as people. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not so much as a football player, but they were allowed to breathe and they felt more comfortable.
“He did so much positive for them, he was brilliant in the way he spoke to those players, but also at times he was maybe a detriment to them, the pressure he put on them - unknowingly I suppose - just because of who he was and the stature of player that he was.
“I think maybe Cristiano’s stature, he’s not a talker and someone who’s going to sit down and talk to me. He’s more ‘you’re going to watch me and you’re going to learn’ and the aura that he has to be one of the best players ever could be a burden on some of these players, and they’re not able to handle that pressure that’s coming from him.”
READ NEXT:
