Man United told to sell Cristiano Ronaldo right ‘now’ after news today – pundit
Noel Whelan has suggested Man United should sell Cristiano Ronaldo “very quickly” in order to focus on “changing the culture” at the club.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed a drawn-out transfer saga involving the 37-year-old could breed “speculation and negativity” at Old Trafford.
According to The Athletic (5 July), Ronaldo has missed a second consecutive day of Man United’s pre-season training – just days after informing the club of his desire to leave this summer.
The former Real Madrid icon has asked to exit the club should a “suitable bid” arrive – with Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Napoli all said to be interested.
Ronaldo notched 24 goals and three assists during the 2021-22 season as Man United finished sixth in the Premier League.
Whelan urged the Red Devils decision-makers to “start looking now” in order to secure a replacement for the veteran superstar.
“This is obviously a big situation for Man United,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“You’re dealing with one of the best players in the world here. His name speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
“I think the longer it goes on, the more speculation you get and the more negativity you see.
“Man United have got to nip this in the bud now.
“They’ve got to start looking now for the next Cristiano Ronaldo. Someone who can come in and fill that void.
“If they let him go as soon as possible there is plenty of time to find that player. It needs to be sorted out very quickly.
“Man United have got a pre-season to focus on. They need to change the culture at the football club.”
In other news, expert issues “mind-blowing” verdict after Man United “time bomb” claim.