EPL: Man Utd better off without Cristiano Ronaldo, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher, an English football pundit and former Liverpool star, has said that Manchester United will be better off without 37-year-old Portuguese player, Cristiano Ronaldo as the 2022/23 EPL season begins.

Recall that the five-time Ballon d’Or missed United’s recent preseason tour of Thailand and Australia and didn’t return to training until last week, after further discussions about his future with his agent, Jorge Mendes.

Ronaldo reportedly wants to leave United in order to play for a club competing in next season’s Champions League.

Speaking on Friday Night Football, Carragher said: “I’ve been critical of the Ronaldo signing since he came in and I said that Ten Hag should really be moving on from that,”

“I know it is easier said than done to move a player out but really, we want him to stay because we talk about him, and he provides headlines. He’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

“We’ve got some of the best players, the biggest names and managers in Klopp and Guardiola, and Ronaldo is one of the biggest names, if not the biggest name because of the player he’s been in the past and what he’s done and achieved.

“So, really looking at it from an analytical point of view at Man Utd, I think they would be better without him and almost starting afresh with a younger team.

“But, in terms of our job and what we do, covering the big names and talking points, he is an absolute superstar. He’s a mega star.

“If he plays at the weekend we’ll all be focussing on him and analysing his performance, his body language and what he’s like with the manager on the side of the pitch.

“He’s a huge story and that is why in some ways you want to keep him in the Premier League.”