Update: Graeme Souness delivers scathing Manchester United verdict as Cristiano Ronaldo point made News

The former Premier League midfielder believes Manchester United failed to keep the right people at the club

Graeme Souness believes Manchester United are about to pay the price for ignoring Cristiano Ronaldo’s warnings after the Portuguese star publicly exposed the issues he uncovered at Old Trafford.

On the same weekend their rivals Liverpool could lift the Premier League title, Manchester United face the possibility of their worst-ever finish in the competition. Souness believes United are to blame after Ronaldo exposed the club’s issues following his return in 2021.

The Portugal star returned to the club for a second spell and his return was met with jubilation from the Reds’ faithful. His second debut against Newcastle United couldn’t have gone better -netting a brace in front of the Old Trafford crowd.

But it wasn’t long before things began to unravel. United began to lose games and ultimately, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. Despite Ralf Rangnick being appointed as interim manager, things did not improve.

A new manager, Erik ten Hag, then took charge, but Ronaldo saw limited game time. Believing he should be a regular starter, Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute in a match against Tottenham and was seen leaving the stadium before the final whistle.

Ronaldo then dropped a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, taking aim at Ten Hag while also criticising the Glazer family. Eventually, both parties decided to terminate the forward’s contract.

Now, Souness believes United parted ways with the wrong people following their decline. “When Cristiano returned to Old Trafford, he was the perfect role model for the players in United’s squad,” he told the Mirror.

“He is the consummate professional, someone who demanded the highest standards from himself and those around him. He was disappointed with what he found when he returned to the club. He questioned whether people cared enough about their profession.

“Over the last decade, since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have lacked senior pros who are capable of dragging the team with them. They had the best in the business in Ronaldo – and I think he left because, reading between the lines, promises were made to him about players who would arrive at Old Trafford that weren’t kept.

“I’m talking about one of the greatest players who has ever kicked a ball. It was folly for the decision-makers at Old Trafford not to listen to him. I think Cristiano’s ego made him think that someone at the top of the club would listen to him. But nobody did – and more than two years later, United are no further forward.”

The former Liverpool star also discussed the Reds’ current team, adding: “I came to realise that every time you walked out onto the pitch, you had to expect an opposition team that saw it as their cup final. I recognise a few similar characters in the current Liverpool team. [Virgil] van Dijk for one. He never looks happy. Robbo [Andy Robertson] looks like he moans all the time. I absolutely love that.

“Who are the players who do that at United? I don’t recognise any. When you play for Liverpool or United, you have to have attitude as well as ability. That’s the price on the ticket for wearing the shirt.”

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