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Gary Neville predicts a bottom-half finish for Manchester United if Cristiano Ronaldo is sold
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has predicted the Red Devils to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table at the end of the 2022/23 season if they sell Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese has been angling for a move from Manchester this summer. United’s failure to get a top-four finish and be in the Champions League seems to be one of the reasons for the 37-year-old’s uncertain future at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Sky Sports via Manchester Evening News, the former United captain feels the club are in a dilemma regarding Ronaldo’s exit. Neville is of the opinion that the Red Devils don’t have any other player to rely on in front of goal.
“As I sit here today, I think there’s a massive decision they have to make on Cristiano Ronaldo and they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
“A few weeks ago before the season started, the best thing to do was facilitate a move out of the club for Cristiano because he’s obviously not happy and the club aren’t happy with him. The problem they have now is if they lose him, there’s nothing left in terms of the goalscoring part of the pitch.”
Ronaldo ended the 2021/22 season as United’s top goalscorer. The 37-year-old was the only player to have lived up to expectations. Our other forwards failed to have the output fans had hoped for.
None of our players apart from Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes managed to get double figures for goals or assists. The defence, midfield and attack letdown the supporters in the previous campaign.
Neville believes United could end up with their worst finish in the PL era if the Portuguese is allowed to leave. The former Red Devil feels the team without Ronaldo is “a bottom half of the table team”.
“I genuinely think if they don’t bring players in or if they bring in poor players and he leaves, I genuinely think they can finish in the bottom half of the table. That’s a bottom half of the table team.”
Erik ten Hag’s first competitive game in the Old Trafford dugout got off to a nightmare start. The team lost against Brighton & Hove Albion. The forward line lacked creativity and options on the bench were scarce.
Things went from bad to worse against Brentford in our second game of the 2022/23 season. The Bees stung us with four goals in the first half. United created a few half chances in the game but nothing major.
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We face Liverpool in our next fixture at Old Trafford. The club have made just three signings this summer and none of them have been for the forward line. Hopefully, Ronaldo stays at United and the hierarchy bolster the squad before the end of the transfer window.
