Messi 'would never act like Ronaldo'
FT Desk
- Updated: 25 Aug 2022 18:37 BST
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo has been sharply criticised for his recent behaviour, with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince claiming that fellow great Lionel Messi would never act out in that manner.
Ronaldo has endured a rocky summer at Old Trafford as he angles for a move away from the club.
New manager Erik ten Hag benched the veteran for United's Premier League season debut against Brighton and removed him from the starting line-up again after going down 4-0 to Brentford, a move that was vindicated on Monday as the Red Devils took down Liverpool to finally get on the board in 2022-23.
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Ronaldo's body language and general manner around the club, not to mention the constant rumours, have been of concern throughout the window, and Ince appears to have tired of the 37-year-old.
“Roy Keane and I would have never put up with Cristiano Ronaldo’s antics,” he told BoyleSports Premier League.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has to leave Man United. If he was in the Man United dressing room when I was playing with the likes of Roy Keane and Steve Bruce, we wouldn’t be putting up with him and he wouldn’t be getting away with anything.
“Leaving Ronaldo out of the starting XI was so important because it shows people that there can be life without Ronaldo. He’s been a distraction for everyone at Man United.
"He hasn’t had the desired effect that everyone thought he would and you wouldn’t see Lionel Messi acting the way he has at times.”
'Not worth £60 million'
Ince also gave his backing to Casemiro, while claiming that United overpaid for the privilege of signing the Real Madrid idol.
“Casemiro is not worth £60million – but he’s a good signing,” he explained.
“It’s great that Man United signed Casemiro, but it’s a lot of money at his age and I think sometimes clubs are taking the mick out of Man United because they know that the Red Devils need players so the price goes up.
“£60m on a four-year-deal for a 30-year-old is a lot of money but it shows where Man United are at now because they’re having to pay over the odds to get players in.”
