Souness unconvinced by Ronaldo return and says star will struggle vs Van Dijk

Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United after 12 years away from Old Trafford.

Ronaldo enjoyed a solid three-year stint with Juventus, continuing to find the back of the net as he reaches the business end of his career.

And United fans are overjoyed that the club legend snubbed an offer from rivals Manchester City to engineer a spectacular return to the club he first joined in 2003.

But Liverpool legend Graeme Souness doesn't feel the same, sharing his belief that the 36-year-old doesn't have what it takes the influence the biggest games anymore.

"Every successful team has players where everyone is working to get the ball back," he told talkSPORT.

"The top teams don't have any passengers and if you're taking Ronaldo at this time, he ain't going to give you the hard yards.

"I have got a doubt about it. Juventus took him to win the Champions League, but he's not going to be the difference in the big games.

"He'll score goals, he will, because he's got a brain and he's been so athletic throughout his career.

"But in the bigger games against the better centre-halves… imagine putting him against Virgil van Dijk!"

Souness' Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville played with Ronaldo during his first United stint.

And the former right-back is delighted to see his friend back in the Premier League.

"It's fantastic news," Neville told Sky Sports News.

"It's a little bit nostalgic, which doesn't always work in football, but the idea of Ronaldo going to Manchester City was torture for United fans.

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"If there is a big player available, United have to be in the market. We know there's a potential that Erling Haaland could be available next summer, Edinson Cavani's probably got a year, they definitely need a centre-forward option with Cavani.

"I know they've got Mason Greenwood but if you look at the business Chelsea have done, that Manchester City were looking to do, Manchester United had to compete, and what they've done is bolster the squad with a proven goalscorer, a club legend, and it's going to give them an incredible 12 months.

"Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, personal accolades, set the Premier League on fire. It is a different Ronaldo, everyone expected that."

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