Sir Alex Ferguson told to ‘step back’ from Man Utd after Ronaldo talks

Rumor has it that the legendary former Red Devils manager has joined the fight to keep CR7 at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson should ‘step back’ from Manchester United after making an appearance during the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer talks, according to ex-England striker Darren Bent.

The 80-year-old Scot, who coached Ronaldo during his first spell at Old Trafford from 2003 until 2009, was seen at United’s Carrington training base on Tuesday as CR7 and his agent, Jorge Mendes, arrived to discuss the former’s future with manager Erik ten Hag and the club’s hierarchy.

It’s understood Ferguson attended a board meeting on that day with current chief executive Richard Arnold and ex-chief executive David Gill.

📸 Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes arriving at Carrington

🔴 Sir Alex Ferguson was also seen arriving at #MUFC's training ground this morning pic.twitter.com/x1GPWMcjP0

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) July 26, 2022

‘I don’t think Erik ten Hag needs that’

Whether Ferguson had any involvement in Ronaldo’s talk with Ten Hag remains unknown, but Bent insists it’s time for him to take a back seat to avoid the risk of undermining United’s new manager.

“Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager in Manchester United’s history, [the] greatest manager in Premier League history,” he told talkSPORT.

“I don’t know what it would be like having someone like that overseeing you on the decision you make. You look at Ralf [Rangnick], he made some tame decisions, and there was a big story about that, saying Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have done it.

“I don’t think Erik ten Hag needs that. It would be nice to see Fergie step back from it and let Ten Hag have a real go.

“If he [Ronaldo] can’t report because he has family issues, I understand that. But I don’t think the whole circus has done Erik ten Hag any favors.

“Especially given Ten Hag has come out and said he wants to build his team around Ronaldo. Can you build a team around someone who has made it evidently clear they don’t want to be there?

“I don’t think you can. You try and get as much money for him, you let him go, and then try and move forward with the squad that you have.”