- Jason Cundy believes that Manchester United need to strengthen their attacking options and Ten Hag must build a team around Ronaldo
- Roy Keane does not believe his former teammate Ronaldo is on his way out, believing that Ten Hag must keep him at Old Trafford
- Cristiano Ronaldo is the leading scorer at Manchester United this season
According to Jason Cundy, incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag must prioritize bringing Cristiano Ronaldo into his squad.
The Ajax manager will take over at Old Trafford in the summer, and after another disappointing season, he is expected to oversee a squad makeover.
Ronaldo netted United’s second goal in their 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday. Photo: Getty Images
Ten Hag’s preferred style of the play revolves around dominating possession and pressing from the front, which may not suit the 37-year-old Ronaldo, who is Man United’s leading scorer this season.
Despite this, Cundy believes that, while United do need to strengthen their attacking options, Ten Hag must continue to build his team around Ronaldo, who has scored 24 goals this season.
“If ErikTen Hag is going to play the way he has done at Ajax, you would’ve thought that Ronaldo cannot play every game,” the former Chelsea player said on The Sports Bar following Man United’s 3-0 win over Brentford.
“But then you find a way. His goals have been phenomenal again. His goals to game ratio are phenomenal, and he is the greatest goal scorer ever.
“So you find a way to have Ronaldo in and around the squad. Whether he’s going to start 38 Premier League games, I very much doubt. I can’t see that happening.
“United do need help up top; they do.”
United legend Gary Neville echoed Cundy’s thoughts, saying on commentary for Sky Sports: “This is the best they have played this season.
“They have looked more connected as a team.
“My man of the match is Cristiano Ronaldo. The penalty, the build-up to it, and he had one disallowed in the first half.
“Just his all-around performance has been outstanding.”
Jason Cundy believes Ten Hag should build a team around Ronaldo Photo: MARCA
The Portuguese manager’s future at the club has been questioned in recent months following yet another disappointing season, with hopes of silverware fading following their defeat to Atletico Madrid in the last-16 of the Champions League in March.
Despite this, Red Devils hero Roy Keane does not believe his former teammate Ronaldo is on his way out, believing that Ten Hag must keep him at Old Trafford.
“I don’t think his body language suggested that he was leaving,” Keane explained. “I look at the goals he’s got. His performances warrant him staying at the club.”
Keane continued: “But Man United need to get other strikers in there. There has to be competition for places. If your leading goal scorer, who you depend on, is 37 years of age, that’s certainly not good.
“But I’d certainly be hanging on to Ronaldo. You might have to have a conversation about how you’re going to play or that he won’t be playing week out. But why would you get rid of a player that scores that many goals?”
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