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Cristiano Ronaldo is 'part of the problem' at Manchester United in wake of their crushing FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.
That's according to Carlton Cole whose questioned the club's signing of Ronaldo last summer and claimed the team have not improved since his arrival.
This season, the Portuguese superstar has 14 goals in all competitions including a couple of crucial strikes in the Champions League.
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But Cole isn't convinced he has progressed Man United and dissected the 37-year-old's game.
The former Chelsea and West Ham United striker isn't sure Ronaldo can lead by example anymore and reckons he hasn't got the same tenacity.
"He scores a bag of goals, but was he the right thing for Man United? Was he the right thing for that team? The evidence shows, and not even just from tonight, but going on everything that has happened since he came in, Man United still have not gone to the next level," he told talkSPORT.
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"I'm not saying it's just Ronaldo's fault... but he is part of the problem too. I don't know whether he can lead by example anymore. He hasn't got that tenacity. Where he used to be buzzing around the pitch, now he's waiting, he's goal-hanging because he's trying to save his energy and score goals.
"The younger Ronaldo would have obviously been bombing around the pitch and charging about, but now he's got to depend on his teammates.
"He's a leader in his own way, but he can only say so much to the players. They need someone who is going to show action as well. I was looking on that pitch for a leader, and I didn't see one."
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Man United's defeat to Boro also prompted Jamie Carragher to poke fun at Roy Keane over Ronaldo.
Keane claimed the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was snapped up to win cups.
So, when they were eliminated from the competition, the Liverpool legend took at aim at the former Man United captain.
Is Ronaldo to blame for Man United's underwhelming campaign this season? Let us know what you think.
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo
Nasir Jabbar