Signing Cristiano Ronaldo was mistake, admits former Man United boss Solskjaer
Former Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits that signing Cristiano Ronaldo was not the right decision
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has acknowledged that it was a grave mistake for Manchester United to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo. The former manager also attributes his dismissal in November 2021 to egos in the locker room. When Cristiano Ronaldo became available that summer, Manchester City were eager to pounce. The Portuguese great was convinced by Sir Alex Ferguson to return to Old Trafford.
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Solskjaer admits Cristiano Ronaldo signing not the best decision
In August 2021, the Portuguese superstar returned to Old Trafford for a second stint with much fanfare. But Solskjaer was ousted as manager just three months later. At the time, it was widely accepted that Cristiano Ronaldo, who cost Juventus £12.85 million, was acquired at the urging of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. This was without the involvement of Solskjaer.
Cristiano Ronaldo had to be integrated into the Norwegian coach’s team despite having a productive first season back with 24 goals. On Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut, he made his second appearance and scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle.
Solskjaer said, ‘It was a decision that was very difficult to turn down but it turned out wrong. It felt so right when he signed and the fans felt it at that Newcastle game when Old Trafford was rocking. Cristiano Ronaldo was still one of the best goalscorers in the world, he was looking strong.’
Solskjaer talks about Man United tenure
Near the conclusion of his tenure, player power, according to Solskjaer, began to harm the team. He said, ‘When things didn’t go right, you could see certain egos came out. Some players felt they should’ve played more and weren’t constructive. That’s a huge sin for me. Agents and family members get into their heads and tell them they’re better than they are because they have a vested interest. It’s a disease of modern football.’
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Additionally, according to Solskjaer, several players refused to work out or play for him. Erik ten Hag, his replacement, has maintained that there was “no good culture” at Old Trafford when he arrived in May of last year.
Solskjaer declared, ‘I was very disappointed when some said they wouldn’t play or train because they wanted out. When you have a group you need everyone to pull in the same direction.’
