“He’s not going to be the difference in the big games.”
Graeme Souness has spoken about his doubts over United’s signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying that he thinks the 36-year-old will struggle against the likes of Virgil van Dijk.
Manchester United completed the sensational signing of Ronaldo on Friday for £12.8m, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rejoining the club on a two-year deal.
It completed a remarkable turnaround in the transfer saga, with Ronaldo having seemed destined for the blue half of Manchester just 24 hours earlier.
Welcome 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, @Cristiano 🔴#MUFC | #Ronaldo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2021
But Liverpool legend and pundit Graeme Souness (unsurprisingly) has his doubts about CR7, and the impact he’ll have in the big games against the big players.
In particular, Souness thought that Ronaldo would struggle to impose himself against someone like Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, citing his failure to win the Champions League with Juventus as an example that he struggles in the crunch games.
He told talkSPORT: “Every successful team has players where everyone is working to get the ball back.
“The top teams don’t have any passengers and if you’re taking Ronaldo at this time, he ain’t going to give you the hard yards.
“I have got a doubt about it. Juventus took him to win the Champions League, but he’s not going to be the difference in the big games.
“He’ll score goals, he will, because he’s got a brain and he’s been so athletic throughout his career.
“But in the bigger games against the better centre-halves… imagine putting him against Virgil van Dijk!”
👎 ”He’s not going to be the difference in big games.”
🥵 ”His legacy goes out the window overnight if he signs for City.”
Graeme Souness isn’t sure Ronaldo is the player he used to be. pic.twitter.com/3WwemWhRNl
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 27, 2021
Hopefully we’re not going to have to wait too long to see that match-up, with Liverpool travelling to Old Trafford on October 24.
Virgil van Dijk vs Ronaldo could be quite the battle…
