It is almost precisely two years since Cristiano Ronaldo played his final ever game for Manchester United, on November 6 2022.
Soon afterwards, Cristiano Ronaldo torpedoed his own Manchester United career, giving a controversial interview which was engineered towards forcing his own exit. Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by mutual consent soon after.
Ronaldo had begun the 2022/23 campaign poorly, having been denied his request to leave in the summer. He scored only three times, yet netted 24 goals the year prior.
Since signing for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s scoring charge has continued. He has exceeded 900 career goals and is now pushing on in his quest to reach 1,000.
- READ MORE: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo? Meet one of football’s most iconic names and undisputed Man Utd legend
Manchester United search for goalscorer
Two years on, Manchester United are not in a better place on the pitch, since Ronaldo’s controversial exit.
Manager at the time, Erik ten Hag, has since been fired, and one of the key reasons is that he failed to find an answer for the goals Ronaldo could have provided.
Last season, Rasmus Hojlund was the team’s top scorer with 16 goals. In the first season without Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford exceeded his contribution with 30 goals – yet he has gone downhill since, netting only eight times in 2023/24.
This season United have been desperately poor in front of goal. In 10 matches in the Premier League, the team have scored only nine goals.
Ferdinand on Ronaldo goals
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand brought up Cristiano Ronaldo during a debate on his YouTube channel.
He was discussing United’s disjointed attack this season, in which the team has failed to score in four out of 10 league games.
Yet Ferdinand still believes that in this team, Ronaldo would still score his fair share of goals.
He said: “I guarantee if Ronaldo is here this season, he’s probably got about six goals. He’s got more than anyone else.”
This season Alejandro Garnacho has struck six goals for United, although only two have been scored in the Premier League.
Ferdinand also rejected claims United would be better without Ronaldo, adding: “With Ronaldo, that’s where I didn’t agree with about people saying, Ronaldo don’t press.
“Bro, he’s going for the Golden Boot, mate. So them goals are going to win you games, they’re going to mean, every other week’s going to mean three points.”
United have won only three of 10 matches this season in the league and are slumped in 13th place.
Cristiano Ronaldo is 39-years-old and Manchester United have put their faith in younger options, who can improve rather than battle a decline.
Rasmus Hojlund was Erik ten Hag’s chosen striker, and while new head coach Ruben Amorim could try to eventually sign Viktor Gyokeres, he has prove his coaching mettle by improving Hojlund.
Former Benfica manager Quique Flores has backed Amorim to turn Hojlund into his new Gyokeres, pointing to his track record of getting the best out of players. The Dane has scored twice this season so far, after beginning the campaign with an injury in pre-season.
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