Wayne Rooney has asked Cristiano Ronaldo to be patient for his chances amid the Portuguese’s on-field struggles.
Ronaldo has had a 22/23 start to the season that is far from ideal. The 37-year-old has apparently lost his place in Manchester United’s starting eleven.
The Portuguese international has so far appeared in nine games for Man Utd this season. But only four of them have been as a starter. The rest were appearances from the bench.
Of the four starts he has made this season, only one was in the Premier League. He started for Man Utd in their 4–0 loss to Brentford in their second game of the season. Ronaldo was also left as an unused substitute when Man Utd met Manchester City in their previous Premier League game.
Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer the player he once was, says Wayne Rooney
Ronaldo has also had trouble delivering goods this season. Despite 207 minutes of Premier League playing time in six matches, Ronaldo remains goalless in the English top flight this season.
He has only scored one goal for the Red Devils so far this season. That came in their 2-0 win over FC Sheriff, with the star striker converting a penalty.
Ronaldo’s former teammate Rooney has asked the Man Utd number 7 to be patient for his chances. He also reminded me that time catches up with us all and that Ronaldo is no longer the same player he once was.
“Cristiano… he and Messi are two of the best players that have ever played, but in the end time catches up with all of us,” Rooney told reporters.
He added: “Obviously he is not the player he was when he was 22 or 23 years old, for example. It’s hard for him. Knowing him, it will be very difficult for him to sit on the bench. I’m sure if he’s patient, his opportunity will come, and again, obviously he’s the one who takes a risk and tries to force his return.”
Ronaldo was linked with a move away from Man Utd in the summer transfer window. Reports said that Ronaldo had asked Man Utd to allow him to leave if they received a suitable offer.
Despite Ronaldo’s desire to leave Man Utd, the move never materialized. Interest in the Portuguese was few and far between. Man Utd had also insisted at the time that Ronaldo was not for sale.
But recent reports have said that Man Utd will allow Ronaldo to leave the club in the January transfer window.
