Manchester United teammates ‘scared’ of Cristiano Ronaldo as pundit makes bizarre claim

Former Premier League striker makes bold claim regarding Portuguese superstar and Old Trafford counterparts.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Newcastle United  and  Manchester United at St James' Park on December 27, 2021Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Newcastle United  and  Manchester United at St James' Park on December 27, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park on December 27, 2021

Premier League pundit and ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has made the shocking claim that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United teammates are “intimidated” by and “scared” of him.

The former England international identified attacking trio Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho as being resentful that the Red Devils signed Ronaldo in the summer.

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In an interview, Agbonlahor made a number of claims such as the trio being “scared to have a shot” and that Manchester United play their best football without Ronaldo in the team.

Here’s what was said by the pundit and whether or not the statistics back up his claims:

What did Gabby Agbonlahor say about Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United?

Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on September 14, 2013Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on September 14, 2013
Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on September 14, 2013

Former Aston Villa and England striker Gabby Agbonlahor was talking exclusivley to FootballInsider when he made the bold claims about Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Here is every word of the interview:

“It looks to me like Ronaldo just cares about his goals.

“That performance from Ronaldo was somebody sulking all game. He was throwing his hands up in the air because he wasn’t getting chances. Then after the game, he runs off the pitch sulking and I imagine he’s sulking in the changing room.

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“His attitude was off. If I’m Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho I’m scared to have a shot. Every time they have a shot he’s got his arms up to say ‘Why haven’t you passed to me?

“The harmony is not right in that changing room. The form of Rashford and Greenwood has dropped since Ronaldo has been there. They can’t express themselves it’s like they think ‘I have to pass to Ronaldo, I have to create a chance for Ronaldo’.

“Before Ronaldo came, Greenwood was taking players on and shots on and he’s not doing that anymore and getting dragged at half-time.

“If I was Rashford, Greenwood or Sancho I’d be saying to myself ‘Oh, why did we have to bring him here?’

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“He’s an amazing player who has had an amazing career but he’s not the same player he was.

“Man United played their best football of the season against Chelsea with Ronaldo on the bench.

“Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho can play as a front three rotating positions and running in behind.

“If the manager had anything about him, he’d drop Ronaldo for the next game.”

Do the statistics back up Gabriel Agbonlahor’s claims about Cristano Ronaldo and Manchester United?

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There is some statistical evidence which support Agbonlahor’s claims.

Ronaldo has scored 13 goals for Manchester United this season but provided just two assists in 20 matches.

Compare that to Liverpool’s Mo Salah who has scored 15 goals but also provided nine assists in 25 games and you can perhaps see what Agbonlahor is getting at.

However, Liverpool are soaring this season while United have struggled so a more reasonable comparison might be to Tottenham Hotspur where Harry Kane has netted less goals (nine) in 23 games and provided just one assist.

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Kane does come in for his own criticism from time to time but, for whatever reason, we don’t seem to see pundits making such incendiary comments regarding the England captain, make of that what you will.

Without actual statements from his teammates it’s impossible to substantiate Agbonlahor’s opinions regarding the dressing room at Old Trafford but it seems unlikely that a trio of England internationals who reached the finals of a major international tournament earlier this year would be intimidated by anyone.

As for “throwing his hands up in the air because he wasn’t getting chances”, this is hardly a gesture which is unique to the Portuguese superstar, it’s quite common from top strikers actually...