CRISTIANO RONALDO looked “every one of his 37 years” in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad on Thursday night, according to ex-Liverpool star Steve Nicol.
The Portuguese superstar, 37, started for just the second time this season but was unable to get off the mark, making it a seven-game drought in front of goal.
He did have one ruled out for offside and also failed to convert when put clean through as two Sociedad defenders chased back to snuff him out.
It was a frustrating evening for the Real Madrid legend – who has been benched for United’s four Premier League wins in a row.
Ronaldo’s two starts have both ended in defeats – to Brentford and Sociedad.
And he now looks set to be dropped again, with Nicol, who spent more than a decade playing for Liverpool in the 80s and 90s, insisting Ronaldo is looking like an ageing forward.
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Speaking to ESPN, he said: “I’ll be honest, when you mention the game, the only thing I have in my head is Ronaldo clean through [on goal] and getting caught by two players.
“That’s kind of what springs to my mind. And he did have another look.
He had a couple of other chances, not as good as that one, but there was just something missing.
“That’s what I think about when I think of this game.
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“There wasn’t much in it between the two sides, not that many chances in the game.
“But that’s the only thing I can think of. The fact that Ronaldo was clean through and looked every one of those 36, 37 years.”
Ronaldo netted 24 times in 38 appearances for United last season.
He then looked set to depart Old Trafford in the summer but ended up remaining at the club after a long saga came to nothing.
Since then, he has been out of favour with new boss Erik ten Hag as the Dutch coach has preferred to field a dynamic front three of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga.
Following £85million man Antony’s arrival, he has also come into the side ahead of Elanga.
And it seems as though Ronaldo will continue to be on the bench for the foreseeable future.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
