Gary Neville and Paul Scholes agree on Cristiano Ronaldo role at Manchester United

15.10.2022 - 09:05 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Gary Neville and Paul Scholes agree that Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer a permanent fixture in the Manchester United starting XI under Erik ten Hag - but the two former Old Trafford teammates have different thoughts on how the manager handled that situation throughout the summer months.

With no takers for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner after he expressed a desire to leave, he was made to stay put and Ronaldo has since had to settle for a bit-part role in the United squad. His game time is set to come under threat yet again as now rejuvenated France striker Anthony Martial edges his way back to fitness after injury.

Ronaldo, 37, and his place in history - at Old Trafford and beyond - will never come into question. According to his former teammates, though, there needs to be an acceptance of his new status as Neville outlines what he believes Ten Hag to have got correct upon his appointment.

READ MORE: United give Martial injury update

Speaking to the Mirror, Neville said: "What I would hope is that, like with any player coming towards the end of his career, that he'll accept that he won't play every single game and he'll stay and become a massive contributor like he was on Sunday night [against Everton]. If Ronaldo stays, they have a far better chance of being a top-four team.

"But I suspect his mentality, his psyche is such that he can't not play. He feels this is an insult and people I respect enormously in the game think he's being disrespected by being on the bench, but I don't see that at all. I think Erik ten Hag has come out of this really well.

"In the summer, no one wanted him in the window. I think United have played it pretty well, this one."

Addressing that same talking point while in the BT Sport studio,