Man Utd ‘not using Cristiano Ronaldo properly – Delaney

Ronaldo made his sensational return to Old Trafford this summer, and has had a decent goalscoring season. He has scored 15 goals in all competitions, but has only scored once in 2022, as Ralf Rangnick’s men limp towards a possible top four place.

Appearing on Virgin Media, Damien Delaney insisted that the Portugeuse international has been a good signing.

He said: “My own personal opinion is it was a great signing because the hardest thing to do in football is score goals, and this guy scores goals so if that opportunity arises, late in the transfer window, to get him in, I think it was a good thing to do.

“What I think they have done wrong is they didn’t have a plan for him. He landed in their lap and there was no real discussion, they didn’t alter for him.

“The reason they brought him was to play in games like this; get trophies over the line on nights like this. They have overused him and the fact he has only scored one goal this calendar year, it suggests he is lagging.

“They’ve thrown up the top end of the pitch as a number nine. Man United play with wingers, high and wide, they play with two defensive midfield players that play close to the centre-back and too often he has been isolated.”

Manchester United’s scoop of Ronaldo came after he was linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. City, who lead the Premier League despite having not replaced Sergio Aguero, would have been a better fit for Ronaldo, according to Delaney.

He said: “The rumour Manchester City were in for him, that seemed a much better fit for me because Manchester City were in need of a number nine.

“Pep Guardiola has all the bits and pieces in place and he would have been a big enough character to deal with Ronaldo, a big enough personality to deal with him.

“Manchester United are asking him to play a role that Didier Drogba in his prime would have struggled to do.”