“Nobody is afraid…” Manchester United blasted for transfer exile decision by Champions League winner

Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson has stated that the club should have kept hold of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022, as no one fears the club any more.

Anderson, now 35, arrived at United from Porto at the start of the 07/08 campaign, with the club winning the Champions League that season.

Both Anderson and Ronaldo played key roles in the final, Ronaldo would score United’s only goal of the game. Meanwhile, Anderson would confidently convert in United’s penalty shootout after what he labelled the “longest walk of my life.”

Read More: Rasmus Højlund is replicating old Atalanta partnership he once raved about

Anderson left the club in 2015, but in the years after his departure, Ronaldo famously returned to the side, signing in a £12.85 million deal from Juventus in the latter half of the 2021 summer transfer window.

The forward would score 27 times for United in 54 appearances, before leaving the club a second time after both parties agreed on a mutual termination following Ronaldo publicly slating the club. Ronaldo would then go on to sign for Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.

Speaking to GE, Anderson who spent nearly a decade at the club has revealed that he believes that United made a mistake in letting Ronaldo leave a second time.

“When Cristiano came back… man, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Protect him,” Stated Anderson. “Today, Cristiano has 50 goals. [People say] ‘Ah, but it’s in Saudi Arabia’, but he has 50 goals! Out of three chances, he will score two, that’s a fact.

“Whoever plays against him is afraid, and today nobody is afraid of playing against Manchester [United].

“They know that Manchester [United] are taking beatings after beatings. Ronaldo arrived at a time when Manchester [United] was under construction, and he scored 25 goals. And then he left. There’s something wrong [with that].”

With Ronaldo remaining at Al-Nassr for the foreseeable future, it was reported last month that the forward wants a current Manchester United player to join him at the club.

Already accompanied by former Red Devil Alex Telles, Ronaldo is also reportedly keen on Al-Nassr signing Casemiro at the earliest possible opportunity.

Meanwhile, another current United player. Alejandro Garnacho, has drawn criticism from another one of Ronaldo’s former teammates for replicating Cristiano’s goal celebrations.