The Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester United interim manager Ronnick believed that Ronaldo had entered a period of decline and that the team needed a new striker to take on the offensive responsibility. Ronaldo, 37, remains the team's top scorer, but Ronnick is unhappy with the way he has to play around the whole team, as well as his behavior and personality, and doubts he won't be able to play the Red Devils center for long.
Given Ronaldo's age, he is certainly only a short-term solution for United's forwards, plus Cavani will be away this summer, Rashford is in poor shape and the future of Martial and Mason Greenwood is in doubt, and Lonnick has suggested that United bring in a new centre forward next season.
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are looking at Ligue Lyon centre-forward Moussa Dembele, who has been a potential target for the Red Devils. It is reported that this week Manchester United scouts examined the Europa League match between Lyon and Porto, and Dembele assisted in the only goal of the game.
Since the 2015/16 season, Dembele has had transfer rumours with Manchester United almost every year, but they have not come true. He first moved to the Soviet Super League Celtics, and in 2018, the 25-year-old France international joined Lyon. His contract expires in 2023, meaning Dembele's transfer fee could be as little as £25m this summer if Lyon can't renew it.
Lyon, who have already lost Memphis Depay for their contract expiry, will try to prevent Dembele from also going on the path of free travel. Dembele has scored nine goals in 19 Ligue 1 games this season, including five in their last seven games. Dembele played at Fulham as a young man, which means he is an England "homegrown player", has a Premier League account, and he also has Champions League experience, scoring twice against Manchester City in the 2020 Champions League quarter-finals.
If United miss out on next season's Champions League, the odds of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving this summer are high. This Saturday's home game against Tottenham is crucial, and if they lose, United will at least drop to 6th place in the Premier League. But Whether Ronaldo can participate has drawn a big question mark, and he still failed to train with the whole team on Thursday, and could only practice alone.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hip flexors could lead him to continue to miss out on Tottenham Hotspur, after all, there will be a life-and-death battle between Manchester United's Champions League and Portugal's World Cup qualifier play-offs.
Fortunately, centre-forwards Cavani and centre-back Varane, who were absent against Manchester City, are both in normal training and are expected to return to the game. Varane was unable to compete in the last round due to a positive COVID-19 test, while Cavani has been free for six consecutive games due to a groin injury.
This season, United's dressing room has been exposed, many players have been fighting in small groups, and players have doubts about the ability of manager Ronnick, not just Ronaldo. However, the British "Sun" said that Darren Fletcher, who is the club's technical director, stepped forward and tried to mediate the conflict.
Fletcher was popular among Manchester United players, so his appearance eased the situation and became a "messenger of peace" within the club. His presence is considered very important, C Ronaldo, De Gea and other Red Devils veterans, in the past with Fletcher as teammates, and the new generation of players also like him, because Fletcher is also from the Manchester United youth training, joined Manchester United in 1995, made 342 appearances for the club, won 5 Premier League titles, League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League, and worked as a coach in the Manchester United youth system.