Gary Neville Says Cristiano Ronaldo WOULDN'T Get Into Manchester City's Team, Micah Richards Can't Believe It

Gary Neville believes none of Manchester United's current squad would get into Manchester City's team this season, including Cristiano Ronaldo.

United legend Neville made the claim while going head-to-head with former City defender Micah Richards in a hilarious new episode of Agree To Disagree, in partnership with Sky Bet.

Ronaldo has managed a respectable return of 15 goals in 31 games for United since rejoining the club from Juventus last summer.

But that form is not enough for Ronaldo to get into City's staring line-up, according to his former team-mate Neville.

When asked to name a combined XI from United and City ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad, Neville and Richards failed to see eye-to-eye over the Portuguese.

Ronaldo has scored 15 goals in 31 games since returning to United (Image: PA)

You can read their exchange below:

Neville: "I can be really honest about it, I can go through them. [Ruben] Dias, [Aymeric] Laporte, [Joao] Cancelo, [Kyle] Walker – they're better than all of United's back four.

"Midfield, Fernandinho and Rodri are better than United's holding midfield players.

"Bernardo Silva, [Ilkay] Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne… Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one that I think could, over the last 12 to 18 months.

"But De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, [Riyad] Mahrez, [Phil] Foden, [Raheem] Sterling… I can't put Bruno into front of Silva and De Bruyne at the moment. It's a sad indictment really."

Neville says only Bruno Fernandes would be in with a shout of getting into Manchester City's team (Image: PA)

Richards: "I think [Paul] Pogba on his day though. Are we talking about form, potential?"

Neville: "If you disagree put your glass here [on disagree]. Don't start trying to do what you do around Paul Pogba! Put your glass where your mouth is. Shift your glass if you feel that strongly about it and defend it!"

Richards: "I’m going to disagree and say [Cristiano] Ronaldo."

Neville: "You can’t put Ronaldo in at the moment. Is it from history or is it now as they’re playing now? Current XI now?"

Ronaldo received unlikely support from former City defender Micah Richards (Image: PA)

Richards: "If Ronaldo was in City's team, he would be on 20, 25 goals."

Neville: "I'm not saying he wouldn't."

Richards: "I'd take Ronaldo off you…"

Neville: "Who are you dropping? Foden? Sterling? Mahrez? De Bruyne?"

Richards: "I'm only going two in midfield."

Neville: "Oh he's bottled it! Pep's played 4-3-3 for the last 25 years and Micah's bottled it and changed his system on him!"

Richards: "I’m going 4-2-3-1. Ronaldo has to be [in the team]. It's imperative that Ronaldo is in my front line."

Neville: "Who are you taking out?"

Richards: "Rodri is out. I’m going two [in midfield]. Only to get Ronaldo in. That’s what I’m doing."

Do you agree with Micah Richards? Would Ronaldo get into a combined City-United XI? Let us know your thoughts. 

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Micah Richards, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier League

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan