Aheed Abrar
Manchester United ‘will not sign’ replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in January transfer window
Manchester United ‘will not sign’ a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in January if the 37-year-old were to leave, according to The Athletic (Subscription Required) [h/t Manchester Evening News].
The Red Devils are in desperate need of reinforcements in the number nine position. And with fresh uncertainty around the Portugal international’s future at Old Trafford, getting a new striker seems essential.
However, the Manchester-based club have no automatic plans to sign a new player in the event the forward leaves in the winter transfer window.
Ronaldo has not had the best of seasons at United under Erik ten Hag. The Portuguese icon, who finished as the club’s top goalscorer last in the previous campaign, has been relegated to a bit-part role with the arrival of the Dutch manager in the Old Trafford dugout.
The 37-year-old has started just twice in the Premier League this season. And the forward has spent most of his time on the bench, with Ten Hag preferring other options ahead of CR7 in the centre-forward position.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have been the first-choice striker for the former Ajax head coach. And Ronaldo, who recently scored his 700th club career goal against Everton, has gone down the pecking order.
Against Tottenham Hotspur, the Portuguese star refused to come on as a substitute. He subsequently walked down the tunnel before the full-time whistle. Consequently, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was suspended and did not travel with the squad to Stamford Bridge.
Currently, the Old Trafford side have Jadon Sancho and Antony. Anthony Elnaga and Alejandro Garnacho can also be called upon.
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However, there is evidently an apparent dearth when it comes to strikers, with Martial not featuring much due to injuries. Fans also feel Rashford is not clinical enough up front. Thus, if Ronaldo leaves, it would be wise for the club to get an adept replacement.
