Wayne Rooney Says Signing Cristiano Ronaldo Hasn't Worked For Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo's move back to Manchester United hasn't been the huge success that many would have expected, and Wayne Rooney doesn't believe it's worked out.

Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford last summer was extremely dramatic, with the club 'stealing' him from the clutches of rivals Manchester City at the 11th hour.

His arrival back was initially heralded but it's not according to plan for the player or the club, despite the fact he remains their top scorer this season.

The 37-year-old hasn't exactly been Ralf Rangnick's favoured player in his system, since taking over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in December, and the goals have dried up, apart from a recent hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur.

There has been questions about his future, especially if United don't secure a place in next season's Champions League, and it sounds like Rooney might be on board with him leaving.

"You’d have to say no at the minute," Ronaldo's former teammate said on Monday Night Football when asked if the signing had worked out.

"I think he’s scored goals, he’s scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season, he scored the hat-trick against Tottenham, but I think if you’re looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best and lift Manchester United over these next two or three years. 

"Obviously Cristiano is getting on a bit, he certainly isn’t the player he was when he was in his 20s, and that happens, that’s football.

"He’s a goal threat but the rest of the game they need more, they need young hungry players."

🗣 "He's a goal threat but the rest of the game they need more, they need young hungry players."

Wayne Rooney doesn't feel that signing Cristiano Ronaldo has worked out for Manchester United pic.twitter.com/fElNwiYEh1

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 4, 2022

Rangnick had wanted a more high intense, pressing game from the team when he took over in December, and that instantly brought questions about Ronaldo's ability to fit in.

However, there has been a lack of options for the former RB Leipzig manager, especially with the continued absence of Edinson Cavani due to injuries and fitness problems.

The club also loaned out Anthony Martial in January and Mason Greenwood continues to not be available for selection, whilst Marcus Rashford has lost form in recent months, leading to him not being an option for Rangnick.

Rooney did name the four players who the next manager should build his team around, and Ronaldo missed out on that list as well, with Jadon Sancho and Rashford amongst them.

Another man who the Derby County manager didn't mention was Paul Pogba, with the Frenchman's future beyond the summer still unknown, no doubt not helped by the lack of a permanent manager.

Pogba's contract expires at the end of the season, and Rooney believes it's time the former Juventus man moved on, again, "It’s got to a point now that it’s better to move on," the former club captain said.

"If Paul is honest with himself, he probably hasn't had the impact he would have liked since he returned to Manchester United."

United are already set to make a lot of money on the contracts of players that are expiring in the summer, if Ronaldo also leaves that amount will be huge.