Man Utd: Gary Neville names 3 players affected by Ronaldo return

Despite CR7 scoring an impressive haul of goals on his return, Neville reckons his presence caused an imbalance in the dressing room.

Gary Neville thinks Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United had a negative effect on Edinson Cavani, Bruno Fernandes, and Harry Maguire.

Ronaldo scored 24 goals in all competitions to cap off an impressive return to Old Trafford. He finished as the Premier League’s third-highest scorer, bagged a Goal of the Season contender, and won some decisive points.

Despite Manchester United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, Neville expects Ronaldo to stay. He does, however, have concerns over his former teammate’s impact in the dressing room.

“I think he’s staying,” the former right-back said on the Overlap about Ronaldo.

“I think at the start of the season, he created a problem straightaway with Cavani.

“[He was] being pleaded to stay and lead the attack for the year, but when they signed Ronaldo, Cavani was shot then and finished. It upset the dynamic in the dressing room for Bruno.

“I think Bruno looks up to him like a godfather in Portugal, so it made him feel a bit inferior to what he was before. It made Maguire a little bit inferior as captain just naturally – nothing from Ronaldo’s doing this.

“Just his presence itself on the pitch means everyone’s looking to Cristiano with Harry trying to establish himself as United captain.”