Saha calls out Rooney for ‘wrong’ Ronaldo claim in Man Utd debate

Toby Bowles
Rooney Saha Ronaldo Man United

Louis Saha has criticised his former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney for claiming United would be better off without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rooney, featuring as a pundit on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, was asked if Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford had worked out. The Derby County manager answered “no” before suggesting Ronaldo needs to leave the club if United are to kick on.

“I think he’s scored goals, he’s scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season, he scored the hat-trick against Tottenham,” he said.


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“But I think if you’re looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best and lift Manchester United over these next two or three years. Obviously Cristiano is getting on a bit, he certainly isn’t the player he was when he was in his 20s, and that happens, that’s football.

“He’s a goal threat but the rest of the game they need more, they need young, hungry players.”

Clearly unhappy with Rooney’s remarks, Ronaldo replied by commenting “two jealous” on the Englishman’s Instagram post. Saha has now taken sides with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner after describing Rooney’s comments as “wrong”.

“I don’t understand. I’m a bit surprised. To target Cristiano Ronaldo and say we need to move on is wrong,” he told BoyleSports EPL. “Why don’t we build young players around Cristiano? Let them learn and improve around him.

“If those players cannot improve and grow then they are not good enough. I don’t agree at all and I think Cristiano has done an enormous sacrifice, but under criticism he has done well. The team hasn’t played well and I don’t like Cristiano being targeted.”

 

 

Responding to Ronaldo’s “jealous” jibe, Rooney said in his Derby pre-match press conference: “I actually saw that this morning and I’d probably say that there’s probably not a football player on the plant who isn’t jealous of Cristiano.

“The career he’s had, the trophies he’s won, the money he’s earned, his six-pack, his body. I think every player, bar probably Lionel Messi, is jealous of Cristiano.”