After criticising Cristiano Ronaldo's'sulking' during Manchester United's 1-1 draw against Newcastle, Gabriel Agbonlahor has stated that three Manchester United players are'scared' of the Portuguese.
On Monday night, United put in a lacklustre display at St James' Park, with Ronaldo, 36, unable to score a winner as Ralf Rangnick's side settled for a point.
Former United icon Gary Neville said that the Red Devils' locker room was full of "whingebags" and questioned Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes' body language.
Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Jadon Sancho, according to former Aston Villa player Agbonlahor, are terrified by the Portuguese superstar. Ronaldo had a fantastic 13 goals in 18 appearances for United, but Agbonlahor believes his single-minded goal-scoring style is having a bad impact on United's young guns.
'It appears to me that Ronaldo is only concerned with scoring goals,' Agbonlahor told Football Insider. 'That Ronaldo performance was someone sulking the entire game.' He was wringing his hands in frustration since he wasn't getting any opportunities. Then, after the game, he sulks off the pitch, and I guess he sulks in the locker room as well.' His demeanour was strange. I'm frightened to have a shot if I'm Rashford, Greenwood, or Sancho. He raises his arms every time they have a shot, as if to say, "Why haven't you passed to me?" In that locker room, the balance is off. Since Ronaldo's arrival, Rashford and Greenwood's form has deteriorated. 'They are unable to express themselves; it is as if they believe, "I must pass to Ronaldo, I must create an opportunity for Ronaldo." Greenwood was taking players on and shots on before Ronaldo arrived, but he's no longer doing so and is being dragged at half-time.
'I'd be thinking to myself, "Oh, why did we have to bring him here?" if I were Rashford, Greenwood, or Sancho.
' Rangnick should drop Ronaldo, according to Agbonlahor, who argued that if the German 'had anything about him,' he would play the kids over the Portuguese veteran.
‘ He's a terrific athlete who has had an incredible career, but he's no longer the player he once was. With Ronaldo on the bench, United played their greatest football of the season against Chelsea.
'Rashford, Greenwood, and Sancho may rotate positions and run in behind as a front three. Ronaldo would be dropped for the next game if the manager knew anything about him.'
United will look to rebound against Burnley on Thursday night, with Rangnick's team sitting seven points behind Arsenal in fourth place.
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