Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has candidly admitted that the choice to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus in 2021 was a misstep, stating that the motivation was largely to thwart his potential move to Manchester City.
The Red Devils facilitated a dramatic return for the iconic forward, who had previously departed for Real Madrid in a record £80million transfer back in 2009, successfully outmaneuvering Pep Guardiola’s side in the process.
Ronaldo’s initial season back in the Premier League was remarkable, as he netted 24 goals in just 18 matches across all competitions.
However, the forward’s fortunes changed drastically as he transitioned from being a crucial player under Solskjaer to an outsider under new manager Erik ten Hag, who consistently omitted him from the starting lineup.
The famed five-time Ballon d’Or winner faced criticism for leaving Old Trafford prematurely during a match.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has acknowledged the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 was not the right decision
The Red Devils managed to secure Ronaldo’s return, successfully competing against Manchester City
Solskjaer suggested that Ronaldo could have potentially outscored Erling Haaland had he joined City
Following considerable speculation about his future, Ronaldo escalated tensions by participating in a sensational interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022, during which he expressed feelings of being ‘betrayed’ by the club and indicated a lack of respect for Ten Hag.
During his remarks at the Oslo Business Forum, Solskjaer voiced concerns that if Ronaldo had moved to the Etihad, he might have ‘scored more goals than Erling Haaland’, reflecting the intense competition between the two players.
Nonetheless, he conceded that Ronaldo’s presence in the dressing room had a negative impact, with some players feeling diminished in stature.
Solskjaer stated, ‘Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world for the last 15 years. I played with him. He has a rich history with the club and is leaving Juventus, but we couldn’t afford to let him go to Manchester City because he would likely score more goals than Erling Haaland does right now.
‘So, I spoke to Cristiano and brought him to Man United, but I believe his signing affected the entire dressing room dynamic. Perhaps other players felt less significant because here comes a world superstar.
‘He excelled, finishing as the top scorer that year with around 24 goals, but I was out of a job ten weeks later!’
Solskjaer gained popularity at United after bringing stability following the turbulent period under Jose Mourinho.
The Norwegian manager has mentioned Ronaldo’s detrimental influence on the United dressing room
Initially serving as interim manager, Solskjaer was eventually given the position permanently.
Ultimately, he was dismissed in November 2021 and succeeded by Ralf Rangnick, with Ten Hag taking over thereafter.
Ronaldo, for his part, exited United by mutual consent halfway through his second season, just weeks following his controversial interview, with the club announcing his departure in a brief statement.
Shortly thereafter, Ronaldo would land a staggering £175m-a-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, heralding a wave of high-profile players joining Saudi Arabia’s top league for impressive sums of money.
