Cristiano Ronaldo’s future has been the single biggest talking point this summer, with the Manchester United forward desperate to leave the club.
Erik ten Hag has been adamant that he wants the player to stay and that he has Ronaldo in his plans for next season.
Gary Neville has weighed in with his comments on the saga, saying the player needs to come out with full clarity on the situation.
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“If he’s fit, he’s starting, and I hope he stays,” Neville said. “I am a little bit disappointed in him I'll be honest with you, I’m disappointed in him – because I think to be fair he's letting the manager go into those press conferences.
“Cristiano now is a good age, he’s been the greatest player in the world alongside Lionel Messi for the last 10 years, he’s got all the experience in the world.
“Would it be too much to ask for him to come out and do an interview to clear things up and tell us what he is thinking and what is actually happening? Would that be too much to ask a senior player?”
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Neville has also pointed out that it may be impossible for Ronaldo to continue to hide from the press due to the Premier League season getting underway.
“On Sunday we're going to ask for him after the game, obviously Sky are going to ask him for an interview after the game, could he not come out and speak to us instead of getting other people to say it?”
“So for me, I am disappointed because that clarity that we haven't got, and the reason that Erik ten Hag is getting a little bit jumpy in his press conference today is because he’s being asked difficult questions. He’s probably not telling us the truth of it really because he can't."
“The reality of it is if a Champions League club comes in for Cristiano Ronaldo in the next two weeks, I think we know that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to take that move.
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“At the moment, no one has come in for him, so that's why the club are saying at this moment in time that (they) want him to stay, but I think if someone came in he would go.”
Neville also explains that the manager and club really shouldn’t be in this situation, and they need to remain firm with Ronaldo.
“Should Manchester United be waiting for two to three weeks at the end of a transfer window as to whether their star centre forward leaves? I don't think they should be in that position.
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“Do they just say ‘no, you're staying, come what may’ – that would be clarity from the club I suppose, but then there’s a big risk that Cristiano in two weeks time throws his toys out the pram, says ‘I'm leaving’... that’s why I feel it's a little unpalatable.”
“We can't have this for another three weeks if you’re a Manchester United fan and certainly if you’re Erik ten Hag – he does need to be able to concentrate on the whole team, on his performance, on the tactical way of playing, he doesn’t want to be distracted all the time by his star player.”
Manchester United will face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday as part of the Premier League’s opening weekend, and due to an injury to Anthony Martial, Cristiano Ronaldo may start the fixture.
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Erik ten Hag has also revealed that new signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen are both available to start, as they are now both match fit.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Erik Ten Hag
Dylan Penketh