Pundit predicts Man Utd star will ‘get the hump’ over Ronaldo arrival

Joe Williams
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Man Utd

Man Utd striker Edinson Cavani “might start to get the hump” unless Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides him with adequate game time this season, according to former Premier League striker Darren Bent.

Mason Greenwood has made a flying start to the season – scoring in all three Premier League matches so far – while the Red Devils have strengthened further with the signing of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The deadline day signing will probably start up front for Man Utd in most matches, pushing Cavani down the pecking order at Old Trafford.


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And Bent thinks Solskjaer will be fighting a losing battle if he thinks he can keep everyone happy at Man Utd this season, especially the forwards.

Bent said on talkSPORT: “I don’t think he (Solskjaer) can (keep everyone happy) unfortunately. Cavani is a very good pro, he’s a legend in his own right. He’s been superb in his career in terms of playing at the highet level, scoring a lot of goals.

“He was brilliant at Man Utd last season, certainly in the Europa League where he got six goals in five games so he stepped up in that. In the Premier League I think he got 10 Premier League goals.

“He was someone in big games and big moments when you needed him United leant on him a little bit, like the Southampton game when he came on and scored two great headers.

“But now you’ve got Ronaldo, he is that person! He’s that person from the start. He’s not coming off the bench to win games, he’ll be starting a lot more than he doesn’t.

“So I don’t see where Cavani fits in. I think Cavani at some stage, if he’s getting limited game time I think he might start to get the hump.”

Speaking earlier in the week, Bent has predicted that Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will score more goals than Ronaldo this campaign.

Bent told talkSPORT: “I look at Chelsea and the goals that they get – a lot of those are going to come through Lukaku. But with United and Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood is going to chip in with some.

“So will Bruno Fernandes and (Marcus) Rashford when he comes back. Ronaldo might not play as much, whereas Lukaku will always start.

“Listen, I think Ronaldo will get goals, I have no doubt about that, but I think Lukaku… well, he’s 1-0 up already.”