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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Roy Keane and Gary Neville disagree on when Cristiano Ronaldo should leave Manchester United

Roy Keane hopes Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United in January, while Gary Neville wants it to be even sooner.

Ronaldo sparked controversy this week after he refused Erik ten Hag's order to be substituted on during United's victory over Tottenham and then left dug out before the full-time whistle. In response, the manager fined Ronaldo and didn't include him in the squad for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

After the game, Neville and Keane got locked into a heated debate on the situation in the Sky Sports studio, with Keane launching a staunch defence of the 37-year-old. The conversation largely went in circles as Keane insisted that United were better with Ronaldo in the side while Neville disagreed.

READ MORE: Every word of Keane and Neville's Ronaldo debate

One thing they did reach an agreement on is that Ronaldo will now leave the club but they had a difference of opinion on when that should be.

"We know him, we love him but he can't accept not being the star man," Neville said. "He's going to have to leave, that's it. That's all it is." To which Keane replied: "He should've left in August, but hopefully [it will now be] in January."

Neville said: "I hope he leaves next week." Keane then asked: "He can't leave next week, can he?" Neville continued: "He can say to the club, 'thank you very much' and find a new club, because I’d like to see him score goals until he's 42, scoring 1,000 goals."

Keane then clashed with fellow pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink over the goals that Ronaldo brings to the side. He said: "We were with players who did it and got punished - it's a mistake, of course. But he gives you something back. We sit here every week praising bad players."

Hasselbaink replied: "He does not give enough back at the moment. He doesn't." Keane disagreed: "He scores a goal every two games."

"He doesn't," replied Hasselbaink but Keane stuck to his guns. "He does. Do you want the stats? He scores a goal every two games."

Ronaldo has two goals in 12 appearances for United this season. The 691 minutes he has played in those appearances equates to 7.7 full games.

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