Craig and Gab explain how difficult it will be for ten Hag to get a player in his squad. There is a time and a place for it. Speculation is what you're going to read. It's an exercise in trying to find logic in a game that doesn't have much and a summer transfer market that doesn't have much. It could lead to a return for one of the greatest players in the history of the game if the future of CR7 is not decided soon. Last year, the summer ended with a virtual tour of European clubs for the player's agent, who was looking for a new client. He signed for Manchester United in the last hours of the transfer window after moving from Paris Saint-Germain. - Ten Hag talks to ESPN: Man United's new era, Ronaldo, more
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It was not optimal for everyone involved. The summer of budgetary and sporting uncertainty was a problem for his previous club. After drawing up a plan to play a certain way and working on it all summer, United ripped it up when they found out thatRonaldo was coming. The previous summer's uncertainty wasn't the only reason, but it certainly didn't help.
United are on a tour of Australia and coming to grips with the style of play of their new manager, Eric ten Hag. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that we are in a bad spot.
The football that Ten Hag played with Ajax was a fast-paced 4-3-3. It's a 180 degree turn from what United played most of last season. It would take a long time for Ten Hag to get where he wants them to be.
On the surface, they both fit into the approach as well as the other way around. You're realistic that you're going to get only the last one, with a lot of patience, preparation and prayer. Ten Hag has been answering questions about this all summer, usually with enthusiasm of a man making his way to the proctologist, and has said that he is a top player, that top players can contribute, and that he is. He's supposed to say more.
The reality is that even though Ten Hag wants to play for a long time, he hasn't played for a team that plays the way he wants. According to data from StatsBomb, the last player to last in every pressing or counter-pressing metric wasRonaldo. That's where he's ranked in every season since he left Real Madrid in the summer of 2016
Let's be transparent. He has not been asked to do what he has been asked to do many times. It was best to let him do his own thing up front and build the team around him. Is it possible for him to change himself at 37 years old? You wouldn't bet on it. Not in a world cup year. Without a full, continuous preseason, I wouldn't. Not on a rebuild team.
There are two fundamental hurdles that need to be overcome before a move away from Manchester United can be made.
Money is one thing. Even with the 25% reduction in wages that kicked in when United failed to qualify for the playoffs last year, and even with the option of United letting him move for free, his annual salary would remain in the $25 million range. Bullet-biting can be used to overcome that.
The other is not as easy to beat. Most top clubs have a system manager at the helm that uses many of the concepts Ten Hag wants to use. The guys with long-term vision who stick to what got them there are the ones who won't disassemble their setup and change to a system that gets the best out ofRonaldo.
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There aren't a lot of landing places, clubs that have more pragmatic managers and have the means to pay him. It might have been one, but not with Kylian Mbappe staying with Lionel Messi and the rest of the team. They already have plenty of options in the strikers department, in addition to the marriage ofRonaldo and Joao Felix, and it's not hard to see why they wouldn't want to sign him.
The elimination process should be used to suggest a return to Real Madrid.
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It would be an even bigger stage for him to play in the European club competition. He was very willing to come back to the club last summer. There is genuine affection between him and Carlo Ancelotti, and the coach is a pragmatist who isn't wed to any single system. It's not the best tactical fit, but if there's a man who can make it work, it's Carlo. Between the club missing out on Mbappe and the departure of Bale there is cash available. Florentino isn't the type of guy who holds grudges and his relationship withRonaldo has been up and down over time.
There is a possibility of a future for Manchester United's star player, according to RobDawson.
With the World Cup coming up in November, it might be a good idea for him to get a start. If last season is anything to go by, that's not a problem for Benzema, even if he has to adjust his game a little. He played Robin to his Batman for a long time when he was a teammate.
The best place for him to start is out wide with a central player. Although they can't do much of what Benzema does, they can offer the grunt work in order to allow him to do his thing.
Vinicius doesn't have to switch flanks at his age. It would take away from the minutes for the trio of Rodrygo, Hazard and Asensio, but that's not a big deal and would have happened anyway. Hazard's fitness is a constant doubt, and Asensio, who has a year left on the deal, could be on the move anyways.
It would be enjoyable to see as a fan. Expect it to arrive at the end of the window. IfRonaldo agrees to a short-term deal and United starts well, why not?
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