United supporters have participated in new research conducted by sports ahead of the upcoming Premier League season. 18+asks that you gamble responsibly.
The goal of the Manchester United supporters is to fight for a top-four spot in the coming season, and retaining Cristiano Ronaldo at the club is crucial to their aspirations.
When he returned to Old Trafford a year ago, the Portuguese player was dubbed a "trouble," but with 24 goals in all competitions, he swiftly earned the reputation of being the "problem fixer," who provided a sliver of optimism at the end of a disappointing campaign.
The veteran forward is viewed as an integral part of the plans if they are to achieve any success under Erik ten Hag next season, according to data from The Fan Hope Survey, which polled fans across the 20 Premier League clubs. 91% of United fans want to see Ronaldo remain at the club for at least another year despite his desires to leave.
Ronaldo has already turned down a rich offer from an undisclosed Saudi Arabian club, and with both Bayern Munich and Chelsea backing away from a deal, it is difficult to see where he might move and still have a chance at competing in the Champions League.
Ronaldo's alternatives may be limited, forcing him to remain at Old Trafford, and because United has made it clear that its star forward is not for sale, it appears that supporters may get their wish.
The majority of United supporters polled said Ronaldo, who is now 37, is still the finest player in the Premier League, with 38% of supporters supporting that claim. With 31%, Kevin De Bruyne came in second, and Mohamed Salah finished third with 13%.
Fans believe Ronaldo will be crucial if he decides to stay, and the fact that 76% of them have expressed dissatisfaction with United's transfer strategy over the previous two years shows how difficult it would be to replace him.
Fans believe that Ronaldo will be crucial to the team's success if he decides to stay, and the fact that 76% of them are unhappy with how United has handled transfers in the previous two years shows how difficult it would be to replace him given that the Portugal international has been one of the team's few bright spots during that time.
But Ronaldo cannot be held solely responsible. Although Anthony Martial has had a strong start this summer, there is still a strong desire among supporters to add another attacker in the off-season.
Regardless of what happens with his star striker, a new forward has been identified by fans as the transfer priority, with 58% of them supporting a new hire up front. Ten Hag shares this opinion as he looks to add another versatile forward to his squad.
This mentality has at least given United supporters reason for hope for the upcoming season. A whopping 81% of those who responded said they approved of Ten Hag's hiring this summer, and 43% thought his first season in command could result in a trophy.
Although most supporters claim they would prefer to finish in the top four than to claim a domestic cup next season, doing so will be essential if they want to keep Ronaldo satisfied for a third and maybe last season.
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