Manchester United fans are reeling at the prospect of another Cristiano Ronaldo exit. To make matters worse, reports suggest that other players at Man United would feel ‘liberated’ without the Portuguese star there.
The Times reported that Ronaldo submitted a transfer request on Saturday, asking that United let him leave if they receive a decent enough bid. Ultimately, the decision balanced on one crucial element – Man United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to play in Europe’s premier competition. Thus, he is looking for an exit from Old Trafford. Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, United’s No.7 may not have a long line of suitors.
The Red Devils have said that he is not for sale. Therefore, the 37-year-old’s price may be too high for some clubs to take the risk. Additionally, Ronaldo commands a very high wage, although The Independent claim that he is willing to take a pay cut.
Current frontrunners for Ronaldo are Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Meanwhile, The Express suggests that Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain are in the mix too. If the Portuguese icon does decide to leave, he may cause a few players to breathe a sigh of relief.
Certain players ‘liberated’ by Cristiano Ronaldo exit
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has a history of lifting his teammates to higher levels and demanding performance from them. However, last season, this did not work out at Manchester United.
A source from the Man United camp told The Athletic how some players felt about the potential departure. They say that some of Ronaldo’s teammates would feel ‘liberated’ if they did not have to share a pitch with him next season.
Additionally, The Mirror claims that some squad members would feel like they could “express themselves” on the pitch more. Overall, this suggests that the Man United dressing room is not in a good place at all.
But what players may actually benefit from more opportunity if Cristiano Ronaldo exits?
Potential beneficiaries
Two players in particular that suffered abysmal seasons were Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Rashford endured the worst year of his career, registering just four league goals in 25 appearances.
Similarly, Martial found himself frozen out at Old Trafford, ending up on loan at Sevilla. He scored just one goal for United before the loan spell. Then, Martial only grabbed one in 12 appearances in Spain too.
However, the pair could reinvigorate their United careers in Ronaldo’s absence. Rashford, regularly used as a left-winger, would benefit from playing without Ronaldo down the middle. This is because the Portugal captain often drifted to the left – finding space for himself but cramping his winger’s work area.
Similarly, Martial may step up as a viable striker option under Erik ten Hag. He would be the most experienced front man at the club should Ronaldo leave. Therefore, he has a chance to prove his worth as a top striker to the new manager.
All this does hang on Ronaldo’s status as a Man United player, though. He was also frustrated at the lack of signings. In response, United have reportedly agreed to deals for Christian Eriksen and Tyrell Malacia.
Whether United keep their No.7 or not remains to be seen.
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