Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United should keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the current transfer window at all costs. The club icon of the Red Devils believes that in the absence of the Portuguese star striker, United are short of good strikers. “He may bring a little more attention than the club wants, but Ronaldo guarantees goals every season,” said Ferdinand.
Earlier this summer, Ronaldo expressed his wish to leave the club management of United, because he would like to play in the Champions League next season and does not have that opportunity in Manchester. The Premier League club has to settle for the Europa League. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have since been linked with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, but for now he is still a United player.
Ronaldo’s future at OId Trafford remains uncertain, but if it is up to Ferdinand, United are standing their ground by not agreeing to a transfer. “People say you have to let Ronaldo leave. Well, get someone who can score 25 goals first,” Ferdinand said Williamhill.com. “Darwin Nuñez, Erling Braut Haaland and Robert Lewandowski all have a new club already. Those were the three players you thought: these are the only ones you should go for and who would have taken United by the hand right away. So Manchester United cannot let Ronaldo go. Even if he begs to leave, they just can’t let him go. I don’t think it’s the right decision to make.”
According to Ferdinand, there is no attacker in United’s selection who can absorb a possible departure of Ronaldo. “You bet on Anthony Martial, who has never been consistent enough for Manchester United. They would have sold him for an apple and an egg last season, if there were interested clubs. He was rented out to Sevilla and didn’t show it there,” said Ferdinand. “Marcus Rashford probably hasn’t played well for a year and a half, maybe longer. Jadon Sancho did not live up to the high expectations last season and Anthony Elanga is a young boy.”
United underperformed last season, but nevertheless Ronaldo proved his worth for the Mancunians by finding the net 24 times in 38 official matches. It is a reason for Ferdinand not to grant the 37-year-old attacker’s wish to leave. “It’s very easy for anyone to say, ‘You have to sell Ronaldo, it’s a circus around him, he demands too much attention’. He may demand a little more attention than the club wants, but Ronaldo guarantees goals every season.”