Manchester United, despite their problems so far this season, have a squad packed full of world-class attacking talent.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer can select from Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial.
He can also (and probably has to) select a player who is more relentlessly talented than all of them: Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, as Juventus found, late-career Cristiano Ronaldo has to be accommodated. The need for the Manchester United team to serve Cristiano Ronaldo has resulted in inconsistent performances and results. This conundrum was demonstrated by Manchester United’s 2-2 draw away at Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
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In a disjointed performance, United twice fell behind before rescuing a draw in the final minutes. The man who equalised both times was of course Ronaldo. His second goal in particular was peak Cristiano.
The impeccable technique of the lethal volley into the corner under pressure, the fact he had a split second to improvise after the ball bobbled around a bit on the edge of the box, the sheer, ruthless certainty that he would score. It was all the reasons any team would want to sign Ronaldo.
However, it could be argued that United wouldn’t have needed Ronaldo to spare their blushes if he wasn’t there in the first place. Only Manchester United could sign one of the world’s best players, an Old Trafford legend no less, and have it be a questionable decision. Solsjkaer can’t play his football anymore, he has to play Cristiano’s football.
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Ronaldo’s return to Manchester has curtailed the development of Mason Greenwood. Jadon Sancho who lit up the Bundesliga and who United pursued for two years, eventually signing for £90 million, has hardly played
Bruno Fernandes, who many believed could become United’s Kevin de Bruyne, is producing less goals and assists since his compatriot arrived.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford as though he was going to be their saviour. So far, it looks like he will only be saving them from himself.
