Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains why the return of Cristiano Ronaldo was not the right move for Manchester United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledges that Manchester United made a “mistake” in bringing back Cristiano Ronaldo to the club.

Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021, rejoining the club after a 13-year absence. His signing occurred during a period when Manchester United was performing well, securing a second-place finish in the Premier League the previous season.

The Red Devils experienced a noticeable decline despite the forward scoring 24 goals in all competitions during his initial season back at the club. This downturn led to the dismissal of Solskjaer in November 2021 due to subpar performances, ultimately resulting in a sixth-place finish.

In a discussion with the Athletic regarding the challenges at Manchester United at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, Solskjaer conceded that the signing of Ronaldo, in particular, had an adverse effect on the team’s performances.

He mentioned, “In September 2021, we were at the top of the league, and we brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, along with Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho. We strengthened the team with these signings, aiming to take the next step and compete for the title. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out.

“It was a challenging decision to make, but we felt it was necessary. However, it didn’t pan out as expected. The decision felt right when he signed, and the fans sensed that during the Newcastle game when Old Trafford was buzzing [Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win]. He remained one of the best goalscorers globally and appeared physically strong.”

“When I analyzed the schedule, it appeared to be a crucial period: facing Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and an away match against Leicester. Then Chelsea and Arsenal, along with Champions League fixtures. Unfortunately, circumstances didn’t favor us. It began with a home loss to Aston Villa [1-0], and a late penalty miss.

“In a team, you require everyone to work together towards a common goal. When things didn’t go as planned, you could observe certain players and egos surfacing. Despite a convincing 3-0 victory against Tottenham away, we ended up losing two subsequent games.”