Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick believes forward Cristiano Ronaldo will stay next season
Speaking to Stadium Astro after his side’s 3-0 win against Brentford (h/t The Sun), Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick believes that forward Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at the club beyond the summer.
Ronaldo re-signed for United last summer from Juventus to begin a second spell with the side that turned him into a global superstar. He had departed from the Manchester club in 2009 for Real Madrid, where he took his game to further heights.
The Red Devils, however, have been going through one of their poorest campaigns in the Premier League and have been inconsistent throughout. They currently sit sixth in the league table and are in danger of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League next term.
Their Portuguese striker has been one of the few bright spots during the current season, with Ronaldo proving that he ages like a fine wine and still delivering at the age of 37. Aside from a slight dip in form early this year, he has regularly provided the goals for his team.
“He will be here next season again”
He was last seen dispatching a penalty kick against Brentford, continuing with his fine form at Old Trafford in what was the final home game of the campaign. The players all took a lap around the stadium to thank the fans for their support all term, and Ronaldo was spotted waving and clapping at the stands.
When quizzed on whether it was a wave of goodbye, Rangnick dismissed the notion and said that the Portugal captain had another year on his contract. The head coach also claimed that as far as he knows, the player would be here again next season.
“I don’t think why it should be a wave of goodbye. He’s got another year of [his] contract. And as far as I know he will be here next season again.”
Rangnick will move on from his post in the summer and make way for Erik ten Hag, who will swap Ajax Amsterdam for United in the manager’s seat in the dugout at Old Trafford. The Dutchman will become the fifth permanent boss that the club have had since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
ten Hag is expected to usher in a new era in Manchester, building a young and dynamic side that can compete with the rest of the big teams for trophies in England and in Europe. The Red Devils are currently on a five-year trophy drought.
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With UCL football not looking likely for the English giants next season and ten Hag looking to rebuild the squad, there are doubts regarding Ronaldo’s future at the club. At 37, he is not getting younger, and the incoming new manager may well be aware of that- instead looking at younger options to add.
However, Ronaldo’s form this season and his importance in the side cannot be understated. The Ajax boss will certainly have a decision to make regarding the Portuguese star’s place in the team. Rangnick’s comments suggest that the No. 7 has more to give and will stay, but only time will tell if those words prove true.
