Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that the decision to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus in 2021 was a mistake – admitting they did it to prevent him from joining Manchester City.
The Red Devils secured a fairytale comeback for the Portuguese forward, who had initially left for Real Madrid in an £80million deal in 2009, after beating competition from Pep Guardiola’s side.
The veteran enjoyed an incredible first season back in the Premier League as he thumped in 24 goals in 18 games in all competitions.
But Ronaldo went from being United’s talisman under Solskjaer to an outcast under his successor Erik ten Hag, who repeatedly left him out of his starting XIs, before the legendary five-time Ballon d’Or winner came under fire for storming out of Old Trafford early before the end of games.
Amid huge speculation Ronaldo could end his spell early, pressed self-destruct by taking part in a sensational tell-all interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022, where he claimed he felt ‘betrayed’ by the club – while saying he ‘doesn’t respect’ Ten Hag.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the decision to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 was a mistake
The Red Devils secured a fairytale comeback for Ronaldo after beating competition from Man City
Solskjaer says the Portuguese forward would have score more goals than Erling Haaland if he joined City
Reflecting back, Solskjaer says Ronaldo would have ‘scored more goals than Erling Haaland’ had he gone to the Etihad.
The Norwegian manager also added that Ronaldo’s arrival effected the United’s dressing room as some players ‘felt less important.’
He said: ‘Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world the last 15 years. I played with him. He played for Manchester United. He has history with the club and he’s leaving Juventus but we can not give him to Manchester City because he will score more goals than Erling Haaland is doing at the moment probably.
‘So I speak to Cristiano. We get him to Man United but I think maybe that effected the whole dressing room, the dynamic in the dressing room.
‘Maybe other players felt less important because of course this is one of the world superstars that comes in.
‘He did well. He was top scorer that year, scored 24 goals or something, but i was out of the job 10 weeks later!’
Solskjaer was a popular figure at United after stabilising the club from the turbulent reign of Jose Mourinho, but failed to improve United as a whole before being replaced by Ralf Rangnick initially, and with Ten Hag taking over the following summer.
The Norwegian boss also claims Ronaldo had a negative effect on the United dressing room
Ronaldo, meanwhile, agreed to leave United by mutual consent midway through his second season, just weeks after giving his explosive interview, with the club confirming the news in a 67-word statement.
Just over a month later, Ronaldo would secure an eye-watering £175m-a-year deal with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr – kicking off a revolution of high-profile players who would join him in the country’s top division for vast sums of money.