Keane insists Man United 'should have sold' Ronaldo this summer
‘Man United are showing DISRESPECT to Ronaldo… it’s just going to get uglier’: Roy Keane BLASTS his former club for not letting the veteran leave, only to bench him, after Erik ten Hag’s derby snub
- Manchester City smashed rivals Manchester United 6-3 at the Etihad on Sunday
- Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the bench throughout the Manchester derby
- Roy Keane feels the Red Devils should have sold the 37-year-old this summer
- He slammed Erik ten Hag for his ‘disrespectful’ use of the Portuguese forward
Manchester United should have sold Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, claims Red Devils legend Roy Keane.
The 51-year-old pundit believes Erik ten Hag is disrespecting the forward by frequently benching him, notably in his side’s 6-3 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday.
Ronaldo was named among the substitutes during Man United’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, but he did not feature even when the visitors looked for an avenue back into the match.
Roy Keane feels Manchester United’s treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo has been disrespectful
The Portuguese star stayed on the bench as Manchester City thrashed Manchester United 6-3
After the match, Ten Hag told reporters that the 37-year-old superstar remained unused ‘out of respect for his big career’, choosing not to elaborate further.
The Dutchman added: ‘The other thing was the advantage I could bring Martial, he needs the minutes but I don’t want to point it out like that.’
After the Manchester derby, Keane slammed the manager’s treatment of Ronaldo, who was one of only four unused substitutes including goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
The former Red Devils captain believes the club should have let Ronaldo leave this summer
Keane told Sky Sports: ‘I think Man United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo. I think he should have been let go before the [closing] of the window.
‘Okay, you’re the manager, you need options but you don’t hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He’s one of the greatest players ever.
‘He’s played him in one or two European games. It’s just going to get uglier as the season goes on.
‘If he’s sitting on the bench for United, week in, week out it’s just going to get uglier. I think United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old forward was one of four unused substitutes not called upon by Erik ten Hag
‘They should have let him go when the opportunity came. He did have options, I know that for a fact.
‘But to hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench, I think is ridiculous for a player of his stature.’
The former Red Devils captain added: ‘So what if you’re 4-0 down. You look at his goal record, as good a chance of anyone of putting it in the back of the net.
‘People are obsessed with the pressing side of the game. You put the balls in the right areas, he’ll score goals.’
Keane was also asked whether trouble could be on the horizon at Old Trafford if Ronaldo keeps being omitted from the starting line-up. He admitted this could be the case.
Keane continued: ‘I think he could be [a distraction in dressing room]. I think he will be if the season goes ugly.
Keane thinks Ronaldo will be hurting after playing no part in the Manchester derby
‘Because Ronaldo, the most natural thing in the world is he’s going to be frustrated. Tomorrow, he’s going to be in with the other lads. That’s fine, that’s the deal. But it’s clear you’re not really going to be starting if everyone is fit. Ronaldo will not be starting.
If there’s a few injuries, of course. But Ronaldo doesn’t want to be sitting there thinking: “if there’s a few injuries I might get an opportunity.”
‘You see him in the warm up today, you see him on the bench. He’ll be hurting badly, let me tell you, despite what he’s won in the game. And he’s won a few big prizes let me tell you.
‘But the great players and the top players want to play week in, week out. He did not come back to United to sit on the bench in a derby game.’
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