Former Sky Sports commentator Richard Keys has suggested that Marcus Rashford’s recent form shows just how much Cristiano Ronaldo held Manchester United back during his second spell with them.
Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United in the summer of 2021, 12 years after leaving the club for Real Madrid. His return to Old Trafford was one that excited the Red Devils faithful.
The Portuguese icon picked up right where he left off, scoring 18 goals and providing three assists in his first season in the Premier League. However, things turned sour after the arrival of Erik ten Hag at the start of the current campaign.
Ronaldo saw his playing time limited at Manchester United under the Dutchman’s management. Frustrated with his situation, he launched an attack on the club and the manager in an interview with Piers Morgan.
As a result, the Red Devils parted ways with the forward by mutual consent in November. While he joined Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the English giants have looked much more stable in his absence.
Keys pointed out how Rashford has been in top form for the club since Ronaldo’s departure. The BeIN Sports presenter branded the 38-year-old a ‘self-centered superstar’ who stalled the progress of other players at the club. He wrote on his personal blog:
“If Ten Hag has done anything to help Rashford, it was to get rid of Ronaldo. Surely the self-centered, self-centered superstar debate is over? Yes, he scored goals after re-signing for United, but they were rarely meaningful goals. “
“He was a pain at the club and suffocated the life of players like Rashford. Here’s the proof: With Ronaldo starting United games, Rashford scored eight goals in 19 games. Now Ronaldo is gone, it’s 16 in 17 – 10 by 10″. in the PL. Obviously there are other factors, but those statistics don’t lie.”
How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared since leaving Manchester United?
Cristiano Ronaldo had been hoping to secure a move to another European club after leaving Manchester United in November. However, he struggled to find takers among the European elite.
Therefore, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The move made him the highest-paid footballer, as he reportedly earns £173 million a year.
Cristiano Ronaldo has made five appearances in all competitions since joining al aalami. He found the back of the net five times and provided two assists to his teammates in those games.