Cristiano Ronaldo has “scared” three of his Manchester United teammates and was “sulking” in his performance against Newcastle on Monday.
That’s according to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has urged United interim manager Ralf Rangnick to drop Ronaldo from the starting XI.
Ronaldo has scored 13 times in 19 appearances for United this season after his blockbuster return to Old Trafford in the summer.
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However, the 36-year-old Portuguese superstar was heavily criticised for his antics in United’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Ronaldo luckily escaped a potential red card for his rash challenge on Ryan Fraser, with referee Craig Pawson only handing out a yellow card.
The United forward was then blasted by former teammate Gary Neville, who accused Ronaldo of ‘running off’ the pitch at the full-time whistle.
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Agbonlahor has now claimed that Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford have been intimidated by Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch.
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“It looks to me like Ronaldo just cares about his goals,” he told Football Insider.
“That performance from Ronaldo was somebody sulking all game.
“He was throwing his hands up in the air because he wasn’t getting chances. Then after the game, he runs off the pitch sulking and I imagine he’s sulking in the changing room.
“His attitude was off. If I’m Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho, I’m scared to have a shot. Every time they have a shot, he’s got his arms up to say, ‘Why haven’t you passed to me?’
“The harmony is not right in that changing room. The form of Rashford and Greenwood has dropped since Ronaldo has been there.
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“They can’t express themselves, it’s like they think, ‘I have to pass to Ronaldo, I have to create a chance for Ronaldo.’
“Before Ronaldo came, Greenwood was taking players on and shots on and he’s not doing that anymore and getting dragged at half-time.
“If I was Rashford, Greenwood or Sancho, I’d be saying to myself, ‘Oh, why did we have to bring him here?’”
Rangnick has started Ronaldo in all three of his Premier League matches in charge of United, with the former Juventus star scoring against Norwich City.
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Agbonlahor insisted that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is “not the same player he was” and believes United should play a front three of Sancho, Greenwood and Rashford.
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“‘He’s an amazing player who has had an amazing career but he’s not the same player he was,” he said.
“United played their best football of the season against Chelsea with Ronaldo on the bench.
“Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho can play as a front three rotating positions and running in behind. If the manager had anything about him, he’d drop Ronaldo for the next game.”
United will host Burnley on Thursday at Old Trafford for their final Premier League fixture of 2021.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Premier League, England, Football