WAYNE ROONEY has urged Manchester United to let Cristiano Ronaldo quit Old Trafford – and told them what type of striker they should replace him with.
The former Derby manager struck up a glorious partnership with Ronaldo during their time together at the club during the noughties.
Now the new DC United boss has cast his eye over the troubles of his former team-mate, who has been agitating to leave the club this summer.
United have so far held firm and they have been helped by the fact huge clubs like Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have turned down the chance to bring in the 37-year-old.
Uncertainty hangs over the forward ahead of Erik ten Hag’s Premier League opener today against Brighton, especially following Ronaldo’s pre-season antics.
But Rooney has suggested it would be in both party’s interest to let him leave.
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He wrote in his Sunday Times column: “United are doing everything to bring Frenkie de Jong in and they could certainly do with a midfielder. A No9 too
“I think United should let Cristiano Ronaldo go.
“It’s not that Ronaldo can’t play in a Ten Hag team. He can play in any team. Ronny will always score you goals.
“But my personal view is that United aren’t ready to challenge for the title now, so the aim has to be to build a team that can win the league in the next three to four years, and you have to plan for that.”
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Rooney, 36, adds that United should be looking for a No9 who they can build around over the long-term.
He said: “If the reports are true that Cristiano wants to leave the club, then United should allow him to go and get a No9 in who is going to be there for the next three or four years and really help them build a team that can be successful.
“Ten Hag has to be given time to do it.”
United have been linked with multiple strikers in the last few weeks of this transfer window.
Marko Arnautovic has been tipped with making a shock switch to Manchester from Bologna.
The former West Ham forward, 33, has scored 15 goals in 34 appearances in Serie A since arriving at the beginning of last season.
Ten Hag’s team have also been been linked to Stuttgart star Sasa Kalajdzic.
He is the tallest striker in the Bundesliga at 6ft, 6in and the Premier League side have reportedly held “initial talks”.
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There’s also the chance that United may just settle with what they have following Anthony Martial’s encouraging pre-season.
But he won’t be involved against the Seagulls today due to his injury, opening the door for a Ronaldo appearance.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
