Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United Return Questioned By Big-Name Pundits Ahead Of 2nd Debut

Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to make his second Manchester United debut, but some pundits already see a couple of possible challenges ahead for him and the club.

Avid Manchester United fans have been anticipating Ronaldo’s first game as a Red Devil since it was announced that he is returning to the club. But while many believe that the 36-year-old could be the key to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long-awaited first title, famed analysts Paul Merson and Gary Neville are open to all possibilities.

According to Merson, he is certain Ronaldo will still register impressive “numbers” for Manchester United this season. However, he claimed that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s age will definitely catch up to him.

“I’m going to go as far as say nowhere near, I would say he’s at 50% [compared to how Ronaldo was at 26 or 27],” Merson said on Sky Sports’ “Soccer Saturday.” “His numbers, don’t get me wrong, are still phenomenal. With him being the top scorer again last season in Italy, everywhere he’s been he has done it.”

“He’s 36 years of age,” he added. “If he does it this season in the Premier League then you would have to stand up and say that he is near on not human. For every kid at Man United – Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – I don’t know if it puts them back one notch with Ronaldo coming in.”

Neville, on the other hand, assessed that while the narrative is that Ronaldo will win at Manchester United once again, there is still a possibility that it might not work out in the end.

“Cristiano Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, win personal accolades, set the Premier League on fire – it is a different Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone expected that,” Neville told Sky Sports. “So in terms of what he gives to Manchester United, it just gives them something that at this moment in time they need. And this could give them a temporary shot in the arm that would potentially get them right up there this year.”

“This news gives me more hope that Manchester United could have a great season, and what it does give every United fan is a great feeling because this is one [of the] most special players that has ever lived, that’s ever played the game of football,” the pundit emphasized. “[But] look, a little bit nostalgic and nostalgia doesn’t always work in football, it sometimes kicks you sometimes when you don’t expect it.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also revealed that he has followed the Ronaldo transfer saga. But unlike Manchester United, the Reds boss insisted that signing a world-class talent to gain instant success is not his idea of winning.

"It's not about me to judge that, but if other clubs can do it, it's not a business for the future, [the next] three to four years, it's about now and immediately,” Klopp said of Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United. “That's how some clubs are working and that's fine, but there must be different ways, clubs who look two or three years later and have success.”

"It's not always with the best squad in the world, it's about developing as a squad and a club and that's what we have done," the manager added.