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Sheringham Hints at Possible Ronaldo Return to Manchester United Under New Coach

by Nelson Ugwuagbo November 6, 2024

written by Nelson Ugwuagbo

Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo could still find the door open for a return to Old Trafford despite his controversial exit. In an interview with FlashScore, Sheringham expressed confidence that Ronaldo would be warmly welcomed back, especially with Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim reportedly set to take the helm at United.

According to a report by journalists, Sheringham believes Amorim’s potential appointment could create favorable conditions for Ronaldo’s return. Amorim, who played alongside Ronaldo for Portugal, could make United a more appealing destination for the star forward, despite the events surrounding his departure.

Ronaldo’s celebrated comeback to Manchester United in 2021 was initially embraced by fans and seen as a fairytale reunion. However, the situation deteriorated after a highly publicized interview with Piers Morgan in which Ronaldo criticized United’s management. The interview ultimately led to his departure from the club and his subsequent signing with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Since joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has thrived, emerging as one of the league’s top scorers and elevating his profile in Saudi Arabia. However, Sheringham speculates that Ronaldo’s growing global influence may follow a trajectory similar to David Beckham’s, with the star likely taking on high-profile ventures worldwide rather than moving into coaching or returning to the Premier League.

“Cristiano Ronaldo would be very welcome back at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim,” Sheringham stated. “But he is onto bigger and better things. I think Ronaldo will follow in the path of David Beckham, doing higher-profile things worldwide rather than coaching.”

While Sheringham sees a possible return to United, he acknowledges that Ronaldo, now 39, may choose to complete his career elsewhere. The comments have fueled speculation about Ronaldo’s future, though it remains uncertain whether he would consider another stint at Old Trafford.

November 6, 2024 0 comments

Ronaldo Still Has Future In Manchester United – Eric Ten Hag

by Folarin Kehinde August 23, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Ten Hag insists Cristiano Ronaldo still has a future at Manchester United after the Portugal star suffered the embarrassment of being dropped for his side’s rousing 2-1 win against Liverpool.

United looked far more dynamic without Ronaldo as they stunned Liverpool to end a dismal run of two successive defeats at the start of the Premier League season.

With the aging Ronaldo reduced to a substitute appearance in the closing minutes at Old Trafford on Monday, United were finally able to successfully deploy Ten Hag’s aggressive game plan.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga formed an attacking triumvirate that gave United the pace and energy they lacked in the 2-1 defeat against Brighton and the subsequent 4-0 humiliation at Brentford.

Vindicating Ten Hag’s decision to axe Ronaldo and igniting fresh debate about his future, it was Sancho who scored United’s opener and Rashford who doubled their lead.

After missing United’s pre-season tour due to “family reasons” amid reports he had told the club he wanted to leave, Ronaldo was already unsettled heading into the new season.

United’s failure to qualify for this season’s Champions League convinced Ronaldo he should quit a club without a major trophy since 2017, giving Ten Hag a major headache just weeks after his arrival from Ajax.

But, with United insisting Ronaldo is not for sale, the former Real Madrid and Juventus striker has found himself in limbo.

The 37-year-old, who finished as United’s top scorer last term, hardly appeared committed to the Ten Hag regime when he walked out of Old Trafford before full-time after being substituted during a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.

A limp substitute appearance in the second half of the Brighton defeat was further evidence of a potential rift between the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and his manager.

Ronaldo played the entire 90 minutes of United’s loss against Brentford, but he offered little attacking threat in one of the club’s worst results in recent memory.

Difficult decisions

That left Ten Hag with a major decision to make as he pondered his team for the crucial clash with Liverpool.

Dropping Ronaldo and then watching United lose to their arch rivals would have put huge pressure on Ten Hag.

But the Dutch coach refused to be cowed by the situation as he left out by Ronaldo and England defender Harry Maguire, a bold move that paid dividends as United climbed out of the relegation zone with their first win this season.

Now United have won impressively without Ronaldo — surely consigning him to the bench for the immediate future — there could be fresh impetus from the striker and his agent Jorge Mendes to force through a transfer.

It is hard to imagine Ronaldo being able to adapt to Ten Hag’s high-tempo philosophy in the twilight of his career.

But, publicly at least, Ten Hag is adamant Ronaldo has a part to play in his plans.

“I think he can. In his whole career he did it under several managers, in several styles and systems. He always performed so why can’t he do this? His age is not an issue,” Ten Hag said after the Liverpool game.

“We have a squad and we have a way of playing, a style and a game plan. You look at what is the best approach to the game. Today it was those players, Saturday it could be different.”

In Ronaldo’s absence, United’s defiant attitude against Liverpool provided the template for the Ten Hag era.

New signing Casemiro, recruited from Real Madrid, epitomises that spirit and Ten Hag wants to see the same from Ronaldo.

“We were talking about leadership, today we had leadership on the pitch, he is one as well,” Ten Hag said of Casemiro.

“Ronaldo has it, so you need some and it is like guidance for young players who didn’t achieve the trophies.”

Pressed on Ronaldo and Maguire’s future, Ten Hag added: “I don’t have to mention Harry Maguire and Ronaldo, they are amazing players and they will play a role in the future, the short (term) future as well.

“It is always difficult (to leave them out) but I have decisions to make.”

Whether that olive branch is enough to stop the Ronaldo dilemma from derailing Ten Hag’s United revolution remains to be seen.

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August 23, 2022 0 comments

Headlines Sports

British Billionaire Interested In Buying Manchester United

by Folarin Kehinde August 18, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

British billionaire, Jim Ratcliffe, would be interested in buying Manchester United if the club would be for sale.

A spokesperson for Ratcliffe earlier told The Times of his desire to buy into the Premier League giants.

“If the club is for sale, Jim is definitely a potential buyer,” Ratcliffe’s spokesperson said.

United are enduring a disastrous start to the season, losing their first two games to sink to the foot of the Premier League table. They have not won the Premier League title since 2013.

The Glazers have been the target of intense criticisms for their failure to invest in the team, which have not won a trophy in five years.

United’s net debt had grown 11% to about £496 million pounds ($598.03 million) by the end of March.

The owners have also been criticised for not improving the Old Trafford stadium, the biggest club ground in the country with a capacity of around 75,000 fans.

Ratcliffe, who owns petrochemicals giant Ineos, made a late unsuccessful bid of £4.25 billion to buy Chelsea earlier this year before it was ultimately sold to an investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. However, he is from the Manchester area and a long-standing fan of the club.

“This is not about the money that has been spent or not spent. Jim is looking at what can be done now and, knowing how important the club is to the city, it feels like the time is right for a reset,” the spokesperson added.

United finished sixth last season in their worst Premier League campaign with respect to points earned, failing to qualify for the lucrative UEFA Champions League.

The club hired manager Erik ten Hag from Ajax in a bid to turn around their fortunes but the Dutchman has not yet succeeded in imposing his playing style, with United losing their opening two games after conceding six goals.

United will play their arch-rivals Liverpool, who scored nine times without reply in their two league meetings last season at Old Trafford, on Monday.

August 18, 2022 0 comments