Obviously, we all saw
the footage of him walking off at the end of man. United's
win against Tottenham before the end. It was you know couple
minutes of Regulation to go then stoppage time as well,
United hadn't made all their subs as well. So there was
a possibility. You could have come on as
a late. Sub-e was an unused, sub-agency Tottenham.
So instead of sticking around and applauding
the players off the pitch for a great performance against
Spurs, applauding the phones, you just went straight down. On
the touch line, straight down the tunnel and reports today
from the telegraph said
he was out of there. He got changed and went straight from
the stadium. So Andy. I mean, start us off here because that
was a really, really just a weird scene to see.
Can you imagine if 10 hog had called for him
and then he just wasn't there.
Crystianna, where is he has that ever one? Has that ever
happened in to
has have? We considered that maybe Reynaldo actually has
in his contract, a clause that says,
As if I do not play by the X number minute, I can just leave
and maybe 10 hog doesn't know about. Like at this point, it's
become so absurd and so ridiculous. Every time there's
a new
chapter, that's written in the story that I am, I find myself
thinking about those things, not totally seriously, but you
have to almost consider it because
to have a player of this quality historically, great and
is going out this way at a club that, you know, it's where he
really, really Rose to International worldwide,
prominence.
It's kind of sad to
See and and I'll say I'm not a Reynaldo fan, never really have
been but it is still sad to see that a player who was meant
this much to people
clubs all over the world that this is kind of how its ending.
Yeah, is ended. And let's not forget he did this along with
some other players in pre-season, you remember, they
left early and the second half after, you know, preseason game
and he played the first 45 and
Eric 10 hog. Nick is asked about it afterwards, obviously,
and he's like, I want to enjoy this win. I'm not going to talk
about Now, but I'll deal with this tomorrow
and that was his. We're saying
I've just had enough of this, this guy's just pushing me to
my limits. He knows what I don't like and it 10 Hogg said
it last time. That is not respectful. That's not
the discipline. That's not what I expect here at Manchester
United.
And Ronaldo has gone, and done it again. So,
I mean, is there any way that he can remain at United? Now,
Nick, I mean, is there any kind of role you can play? I mean,
from the sort of
bit part player in the Europa League coming off the bench in
game. He hasn't been enjoying that has a look like yourself.
I'm just thinking tactically opposition. Ali is there any
way that he can?
You play a bit deeper or go back out to the wing, rather
than playing as a number 9. Is there any way really back for
him at Manchester United this season and
forever?
Of course, there is a way back. Yeah, because it's Manchester
United and
if they've got people there who
are going to lean on Eric 10 hog, which would not be wise.
But anyway, back for me, just
short circuits, any thoughts, that things are different now
and Eric and Hogg has done enough to make me think that
things are different now,
or at least enough different that I felt. I feel comfortable
saying, oh,
I was a little risky saying they finished top four and now
I may reap the benefits. Like, I see them in this climate
still contending for that, and I don't think he wants to get
in the way of that.
You can tell that while he's close with the Bruno and he's
close with the Casimir. Oh, that these guys are their own
men. You saw how Bruno spoke about it after the game.
They're trying to get rid of clicks.
So I just don't see any way
if man united is now functioning
closer to like a
All big powerful Club, where the club matters,
I mean, think about the reasons that Sir Alex Ferguson
used to talk about why he sanctioned player exits Like
Beckham, Ronaldo. You know, you can't be bigger than the club.
Well,
I mean, the only way that could have been worse yesterday and
this is how you can tell he was really mad. Is he didn't take
his shirt off when he was walking down that tunnel.
Yeah, the yeah, that's very true.
I mean, Andy what does this tell us about Eric 10 hog and
how he's handled this whole situation. What does that tell
us about man? You know I did right now because like Nick
said, heading into this weekend against Chelsea, big game at
Stamford Bridge. There only one place and one point off.
Chelsea there, right there in
the top four hunt, they've really
turned things around after a tough start
and there's a new identity about this United team that
Ronaldo just doesn't really fit into. I think he knows that
right? That's why he's acting like this. Yeah, I think it's
a big part of it. I think also the fact that he's just not
getting
what he wants where he wants when he wants. I think is also
still, you know after almost after 12 years of being that
guy that player. It's suddenly a very different world for him
to live in right now and to be at that club at the
time that they're at. It felt like there was a path. There
was an alternate universe where Ronaldo, goes back to United
last summer and he has a positive impact on the club.
Not on his own records, his own statistics, his own profile,
where he is, the
veteran leader willing to be the striker Off the Bench from
the beginning and, you know, brings along what Was a fairly
young Squad at the time, it's gotten even younger under Eric
10, hog, and I agree with Nick, they are obviously
moving in the right direction and 10 August figure. Some
things out that performance against Tottenham was from
a Spurs perspective,
terrifying to see United have that confidence. Once again, it
wasn't that they were so good, but they were confident and
they knew it felt like they knew. As soon as they step on
the field, they were the better team and that they were
prepared in a way that maybe Manchester United has not been
in recent years. And
so, 10 hog is Obviously, gotten a lot of the players I think on
his side now and it's not to say that we have to choose
between the manager
and Reynaldo, but I think subconsciously, that is
something that has existed for the last almost 18 months. Now
since Reynaldo return because he was the idol that most of
these players, grew up looking at and say, I want to be that
guy. I want to be like him and then they got a chance to play
with them and to talk to him every single day
and to be, you know, to have your hero there,
that's a difficult thing. And then you bring in a new manager
who then has to combat That to get those play. It's just
there's a lot going on at Manchester United in. It feels
like at least right now. Eric 10 hog is doing a good job of
navigating all that because other than Reynaldo, it's very
quiet.
It's really quiet. Come out of United right now
and it's not been that way for years.
Yeah, it's true and it's pretty messy
when it comes to another situation and toolkit of messy.
Great segue. There those two legends,
when you look at them in the latter stages of their career
messy, I feel like hasn't had to reinvent himself.
That much at PSG at maybe a little bit, but Ronaldo, seems
to be struggling with that now and always a few years older
than messy, but that's what I was talking earlier about
positionally tactically. Is there anywhere else he could
really fit in. I mean,
I'm not saying he's going to do like a Christian Eriksen and
move into a deeper Midfield role from a number 10
or yeah. Or, you know, a wingback or hybrid Wing back
there, they're all the rage right now,
but it's
it's tough to see
him. In this situation I think given like all his Legendary
Moments and him acting in this way, right? Throwing his toys
out of the pram because
you'd like to think as a legendary
athlete and it will go down in history as one of the greatest
players of all time.
This is just not a good look on so many levels, disrespectful,
whatever you want to call it. It's just not a good look. And
this is going to be hanging over in for a while now and
Nick when we look about what's next for Ronaldo and man
united, I mean ever I got four more Premier League games
before the World Cup break and then, you know, as a couple of
games after the World Cup and the transfer window opens. So
in reality, could this be the last act, former for Ronaldo
man united right now because you can quite clearly, see,
Eric 10 hog thinking.
I'm just going to cut him out the team for the next few
weeks. And then let him go to the World Cup and that gives us
a month to try and engineer away from to leave the club.
And
it seems like that's the only
Pony solution now. But the biggest issue is where's he
going to go?
Yeah I can't see him.
I can see him. I should say
not being ruled out of ever playing for United again but
not playing at the weekend and being treated just left there.
In case you know they have a centre-forward crisis because
certainly there are worse Center forwards to play even in
his current status.
But Anthony Marshall was clearly who they prefer to have
it centre-forward. One healthy right now, talking about being
reborn, I will throw a ringer out there. You keep saying
where he fits. And I just keep thinking
NG where meaning what club
is there a scenario
that finds him at Paris Saint-Germain
because Killian em boppy, right?
Is apparently unhappy at playing at Centre forward.
So, is there any scenario where he wins himself into being
their Champions League Target forward?
And finally, seeing Messi and Ronaldo together? And I don't
know how that would be. I can't imagine PSU really selling them
Bobby and January, but it would move him to the wing. Hey,
Maybe they finally do the thing. I think man united
should have done six years ago when I call your name, our
little loan going back and forth or something. But I do,
the only way I could see him in Europe because he's not going
to take a completely cut, right? Salary
is to go to PSG. Otherwise,
it seems like Middle East or literally be given
Christiano. Ronaldo FC.
As the newest MLS franchise
coming to some City that will then change its name to
Cristiano Ronaldo, Ville.
That's really coming up in the future. That's that's Allure.
Okay, Andy? What about you? Where could you go? Where could
he possibly go? This point. I still want the thought of him,
going back to sporting and it the money at this point. I'm
sure he would love to make more money. I think you'll probably
make a lot more money
after he's done playing. And so,
if he has to take a bit of a discount right now
to go be the person that everybody loves that, everybody
celebrates that everybody looks at and says, that's our hero,
because that's not happening in Manchester right now. That's
not even happening in the dressing room.
And just United anymore and like I just said that I think
that was probably the case that it felt like there was
everybody was in awe of him when he returned last year and
came back to this team and that's not the case anymore. So
yeah I think maybe it's just six months. Maybe this is
the final season of his career
and post World Cup
six months back in Lisbon
and then he walks away from the game. I could really see that
he gets the send-off. The hero's send-off for six months
that he deserves whether you like him or not. It's
it's the kind of way to go out that a player of that Calibre
deserves
and I think it's really about the only place that he'll get
it because anywhere else he goes there's no emotional
attachment. There's no history there and he's going to go out
as just a big name
and not that sentimental like deeper
love that. I think people that
you know at various clubs that he's been out in his career
I think have for him and would show for him
as he's walking away from the game and retiring.
That will be really interesting to see the reaction to him. The
next time, man united two playing at home and all
Trafford. Is he going to even be playing even in the squad?
We have to wait and see what Eric 10 have says but
that sort of that love and
Devotion to Ronaldo from man united fan seems like it's
always going to be there.
But this is going to test that I think that this reaction to
him
and his actions to not being in the squad. I mean it's easy
enough to say right, be a good team player. Help your
teammates out but for someone who is so used to being
the center of attention and being the main man,
it's not some of these have a lot of practice with so it's
going to be a bit difficult for him. So over at pro soccer talk
on, NBC sports.com will keep you updated with all the latest
news on Christian radio, where he's going, what
are 10 hog saying is you going to feature again for Man United?
And what is next for Cristiano Ronaldo? Because it's been
a really weird few months room after saying, he wanted to
leave in the summer sticking around playing okay. In some
games Main Not have figuring it out now without him and now
he's just kind of hanging out and it's
a very expensive way for Man United. Just have a legend
taking photos with fans on Match days around all traffic because
essentially he's become a glorified mascot in recent weeks and
Ronaldo, doesn't want that money night. There's one that and
they've got a fight figure out, one way
or another, for him to move on,
and move on themselves from
is a legend, but now is the right time, it seems to move on
for everyone.