Garnacho stars as Ronaldo flops on Man United return

• Cristiano Ronaldo returned in action today against Rayo Vallecano but he had little impact on the team and was hauled off at half-time.
• Garnacho lit up the game on the left wing with his silky skills, speed, and tricky dribbling.

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a forgettable return to the Manchester United line-up as he was hauled off at half-time during the 1-1 friendly draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Ronaldo was making his first appearance of pre-season after belatedly returning to Manchester earlier this week.

He was installed into the starting XI in new manager Erik ten Hag’s first-ever game at Old Trafford and enjoyed a good reception from fans.

However, Ronaldo was way off the pace in the opening 45 minutes as he was deployed as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

He rarely got involved in the play, lacked the pace to get away from defenders, and created nothing for himself or his teammates.

Alejandro Garnacho has been United’s stand-out performer on the left wing; Photo/Man United Views

And the one big chance that fell his way he missed. He was slipped in on goal by Donny van de Beek but blazed his left-footed shot high and wide.

If Ronaldo represents the past at Manchester United, then Alejandro Garnacho certainly represents the future and maybe even the present.

Garnacho is the future for Man United

The 18-year-old, who has been labeled ‘the new Ronaldo’, lit up the game on the left wing with his silky skills, speed, and tricky dribbling.

He beat his man on a number of occasions and was comfortably the best player on the pitch.

Garnacho looks like a player with the ability to go very far in the game and he was given a standing ovation when he came off in the second half.

As for Ronaldo, his future remains massively in doubt.

Garnacho was phenomenal; Photo/UTD

The 37-year-old has, of course, requested to leave Man United and his agent Jorge Mendes is still searching for a Champions League club that will make a concrete offer.

Based on Sunday’s performance even if it should be recognized that Ronaldo is short on match fitness having missed the pre-season tour they won’t miss him that much.

It was Garnacho and Christian Eriksen who again impressed after a brilliant cameo on Saturday against Atletico Madrid who stood out.

United eventually took the lead early in the second half through substitute Amad Diallo, who came on for Ronaldo.

Veteran Rayo striker Radamel Falcao smashed the ball off the bar before Alvaro Garcia equalized near the hour mark.

Both teams had chances thereafter to win it but the game finished 1-1 in what was a fair result overall.