In light of a trophyless return to Old Trafford this season, Victor Ikpeba thinks CR7 should’ve gone to Man City instead.
Cristiano Ronaldo should have joined Manchester City instead of Manchester United last summer, according to former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba.
The 37-year-old forward turned down a move to Manchester City last summer in favor of an emotional return to Old Trafford after 12 years at Real Madrid and Juventus.
Ronaldo has since scored 22 goals in all competitions, but the club’s results haven’t gone to plan. Manchester United have failed to win a trophy for the fifth season in a row. They’re also down in sixth place in the Premier League, six points outside the Champions League qualification spots.
‘He should have gone to Manchester City’
Now Ikpeba has suggested Ronaldo’s return was a mistake and that he should leave this summer when Ajax boss Erik ten Hag takes over.
“I think he should be leaving the club. Ronaldo coming back to Manchester United was a mistake,” the former Monaco and Borussia Dortmund striker said on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football.
“It is not a question of him scoring goals, so many things happen when a star player returns to his original club.
“In many ways, Ronaldo has been a distraction. He’s a global star in football, he shouldn’t have come back at that age, he should have gone to Manchester City.
“Egocentric players, jealousy comes to play in the dressing room. The atmosphere has been nasty right from the beginning.”
Ronaldo, who has another year left on his Red Devils contract, has stayed silent on his future plans so far.
The Portugal international is currently preparing for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Thursday in the Premier League. Bet365 has backed Chelsea as the favorites at odds of 2.25 at the time of writing. This implies the Blues have a 44% chance of victory.
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