In 5 appearances with Manchester United this season, Ronaldo has not scored a single goal or assist. The situation is unusual for the Portuguese, but it all makes sense considering the circumstances and the striker's rift with the club. Despite wanting to leave, CR7 will play at Old Trafford until at least January. But how does this translate to Ronaldo's future, and will the striker find a place in Erik ten Hag's starting line-up?
In the 1-0 victory against Leicester City, the 37-year-old started the match from the bench, being activated only in the last 22 minutes. Coach Ten Hag was asked by reporters if Ronaldo was one of the first players of his class to be left on the bench as a substitute. The Dutch coach said it is still too early, and the bench players could be activated in the coming weeks.
But how will CR7 fit into the game module that Ten Hag is looking for?
The first problem is the fact that Ronaldo is still unhappy with many of the club's players, with the Portuguese claiming that a large number of them do not have the ambition to win trophies with the Red Devils. This makes it difficult to include the striker in the team as a "team player", especially considering the fact that Ten Hag prefers a style of play with as much pressure as possible on the field.
If Ronaldo is activated in this mode of play, chances are that the superstar will be served less by his teammates, and will have to work harder to find the way to the net. But age is not in favor of the Portuguese. The most likely scenario is the one where the Portuguese is activated in a limited way as a starter, in Europa League matches, or in the championship. Then depending on the performance, Ten Hag will decide whether to give Ronaldo more minutes on the pitch.
