It is more likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United at some point in the future than not at all. The Portuguese national has severed all of his ties with the club, which for Erik ten Hag represents a point beyond which there is no turning back so long as he is in charge.
The explosive interview given by Ronaldo is not only inappropriately timed, but it also serves as an unnecessary diversion from the positive work that his team has been putting in as they strive for steady improvement after years of upheaval.
They absolutely need to stick together if they want to keep moving in the right direction. Ten Hag places a higher value on the group than on the individual, and in order for anyone to participate in the process going forward, they need to have faith in the vision that has been laid out.
If United want to pursue that course of action, they will be better off without Ronaldo, and Ronaldo will also be better off without United. That is, if he can locate a club that is willing to tolerate his excessive self-indulgence and accommodate the significant amount of baggage that he carries with him wherever he goes.
The unfortunate truth for Ronaldo is that Manchester United does not require his services any longer. The club is progressing while he is mired in the past; consequently, his impending departure should be viewed as an opportunity above all other possibilities.
Ten Hag now has the opportunity to release a troublesome figure and save a significant amount of money on the wage budget. In addition, Ten Hag's teammates now have the chance to step up and demonstrate that they are capable of replacing him.
United won't miss what Ronaldo has offered them on the pitch this season because he only has three goals to his name, but they will need to find a way to compensate for the loss of such a pivotal figure in the locker room in order to be successful.
This season, the Portuguese player has been a distraction for the team, but it is impossible to ignore the fact that he is a key leader behind the scenes and that many of his teammates look up to him as a role model. Both Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill look up to Ronaldo as a role model in the game, and the 37-year-high old's standards and dedication to fitness have undoubtedly had a positive effect on the United dressing room since he has returned. Since Ronaldo's return, the United dressing room has seen an increase in positive energy.
Because of his absence, there will be a chance for another player to enter the pool of candidates for Ten Hag's captaincy, as well as for another player to take on the role of a role model.
Bruno Fernandes has been the one to wear the captain's armband the most frequently during this season, despite the fact that Harry Maguire is still the recognized leader of the club. A week before his infamous interview was broadcast, Ronaldo captained the team during their game against Aston Villa.
The manager of Manchester United provided an explanation as to why Cristiano Ronaldo had been selected to lead the team onto the field at Villa Park. He also revealed that David de Gea and Casemiro had been under consideration for the role of captain.
He stated, "You take the player who has the leadership, we have more leaders, Harry is on the bench, Bruno is suspended, and you take the player who has the leadership."
"The goalie is frequently removed from the action, particularly when we are playing in the opposing team's half of the ice, which is where we want to be. Then you come to Cristiano, who has done really (well) the last two games, and I hope he can keep that process going. Casemiro has not yet reached his full potential in the English language.
"When you are captain and leader, you are expected to set an example, and that is what I expect from him — he is an important part of the squad, and we are happy with him, but now he has to take on even more of the leader role."
Ten Hag did not get his wish of an improvement from Ronaldo, but with his exit now seemingly inevitable, there is some comfort in knowing that there are already candidates to replace the leadership he has brought to the side. Ten Hag's wish for an improvement from Ronaldo was not granted.
Raphael Varane, the winner of the World Cup, will also be considered for the captaincy when he returns to full fitness. This means that Manchester United easily have a pool of five senior players who can help compensate for the loss of their most influential star player.
This season, United should have no trouble replacing his goals, and the club probably won't have to worry too much about doing the same with his leadership either.
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