Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Twitter @Cristiano
Ronaldo opens up about Rangnick and Man United exit rumours
Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested his future at Manchester United remains dependent on the club being able to compete among the ‘top three’
Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: Twitter @Cristiano
After arriving at Manchester United amid much fanfare last year, Ronaldo’s impact has waned, while the Red Devils have continued to struggle even after installing new manager Ralf Rangnick at the club.
READ | COULD POGBA BECOME HIGHEST-PAID PLAYER IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
Currently, United are languishing in seventh spot on the Premier League table, four points adrift from fourth-placed Arsenal.
The 36-year-old forward is rumoured to have held urgent talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes, as he contemplates his future at the club.
Ronaldo has now broken his silence on the German head coach and insisted that he has seen improvement, although there were hints that the Red Devils needed to start competing as a top three team for him to remain with the club long term.
“Since he arrived five weeks ago he changed many things,” the striker said in an interview with Sky Sports.
“But he needs time to put his ideas across to the players.
“It takes time but I believe that he is going to do a good job. We know we aren’t playing the best football but we have many games to improve.
“Since he arrived I think in some points we are better, but he needs time. It’s not that easy to change the mentality of players and the way they play, the culture, the system like that. I believe that he is going to do a good job.
“I don’t accept that our mentality be less than being in the top three in the Premier League.
“I think to build up good things, sometimes you have to destroy a few things. So why not – new year, new life and I hope that Manchester (United) can be the level that the fans want. They deserve that.
“We are capable of changing things now. I know the way but I’m not going to mention it here because I don’t think it’s ethical on my part to say that.
“What I can say is we can do better – all of us. Manchester (United) belongs to important things, so we have to change that.
“I don’t want to be here to be in sixth place, or seventh place, or fifth place. I’m here to try to win, to compete.
“I think we compete but we are not yet in our best level. But we have a long way to improve and I believe if we change our mind, we can achieve big things.”
Ronaldo wants his swansong stint with United to be a success
“Cristiano is very concerned about what is happening at United,” a source close to Ronaldo revealed, according to The Sun.
“The team is receiving a lot of criticism and he knows he is regarded as one of the leaders.
“There are quite a lot of problems and Cristiano is feeling the pressure and is very stressed by the situation.
“He desperately wants his United move to be a success, but he is starting to recognise that winning trophies with the current setup could be a real struggle.
“Jorge came to see him and they spent time chatting through how things are going, what they think are the problems, how they might be solved and what the solutions may be. Nothing has been ruled out.”
READ | THE 7 DSTV PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS HEADING TO AFCON!
