Messi’s thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo amid Man Utd predicament speak volumes

Lionel Messi has already shared his thoughts on the tricky situation of his long-term adversary Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United – the first time he faced problems at Old Trafford last season.

Ronaldo, 37, has been intent on departing United for the past four months after his high-profile return from Juventus last year failed to go to plan. Despite netting 24 goals across all competitions last season, the Red Devils’ collective form nosedived, and they finished a distant sixth in the Premier League.

Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel at Old Trafford after Manchester United’s dominant two-goal victory over Tottenham – forcing boss Erik ten Hag to axe the star for the following trip to Chelsea last weekend. It is now anticipated that he will leave Old Trafford next year, and potentially as early as the January transfer window.

The Portuguese star was widely criticised for his actions of walking out of the game amid suggestions that he should follow the lead of Messi in how to handle his declining status. However, Ronaldo has started just one of United’s last eight Premier League matches while the Argentine still plays every game for Paris Saint-Germain when he is fit.

Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford has simply not worked out for either player or club, yet Argentine superstar Messi has already spoken directly of the player’s predicament and indicated that he believed things could swiftly turn on their head.

Speaking to Marca last November after then-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been sacked, Messi spoke of Ronaldo’s predicament: “United are a very strong team with great players. Cristiano already knew the club, but that was at another stage and now he has adapted in an impressive way.”

Messi added: “From the beginning, he has scored goals as always and had no problems adapting. In the Premier League, it is not as good as we all thought, but it is a very difficult and even competition in which things take a lot of turns. After December it changes a lot and anything can happen.”

Ronaldo’s situation at United looks increasingly desperate, with no indication that he will return to a starting role under Erik ten Hag and, despite attempts from the player and willingness from United, no suitable buyer has yet emerged to land the Portuguese superstar – who will celebrate his 38th birthday in January.

Both Ronaldo and Messi switched clubs in the summer of 2021 and neither move has threatened to live up to their sky-high expectations, and with both players’ contracts set to expire in 2023 – the pair are likely to once again be on the move next year.