Cristiano Ronaldo ‘shocked’ by Man United after source’s exit update – expert
Cristiano Ronaldo “didn’t realise” what he was walking into at Man United and expected the club to be competing with Liverpool and Man City.
That is the view of ex-Premier League striker Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 37-year-old’s future.
Ronaldo put pen to paper on a two-year deal upon his return to Old Trafford las August.
A source close to United told Football Insider (31 March) that there is an expectation at the top of the club that the striker will leave this summer.
The Portugal international is understood to earn around £25million-a-year on his current contract.
When asked for his assessment of Ronaldo’s future, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge: “We have seen the look on his face after games.
“You can see a frustration in Ronaldo that we have not see at other clubs. We didn’t see it at Real Madrid and Juventus. He is a serial winner and that is not the case at Man United.
“I don’t think he realised how far behind Liverpool and Man City they are. It’s been a real mixed bag this season. They’ve looked all over the place at times. There’s been no structure in their play. There’s been turmoil from top to bottom.
“He didn’t realised what he was walking into. That has been the problem. It has shocked him as well as a lot of other people.
“If Ronaldo goes it will be damning for their marketing campaign. He is their main man. He is the biggest name at that club. What does it say if you’re selling your best player, your top scorer?
“I would not let Ronaldo let go. They should be building the team around him.”
In other news, a pundit fears Man United could sign Romelu Lukaku 2.0 after £76million report.