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Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Manchester United was welcomed whole-heartedly by the club's fans. One of the world's two best players over the last decade has cost the club just €15 million in initial transfer fees. It is much lower than the profit the club will earn as long as the Portuguese remains in Manchester, thanks to his enormous popularity and fame.
Cristiano Ronaldo's on-pitch returns have so far met all expectations. Six goals in nine appearances across all competitions is no mean feat. But despite that, a section of fans and pundits believe that Ronaldo hasn't improved Manchester United's style of play. There have been concerns about his lack of pressing at the top, which many people believe is holding the team back.
Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival means he is now a shoo-in in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United eleven. But the Portuguese could also be used as an impact substitute by the United manager for various reasons, and here are five of them:
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo isn't getting any younger
Manchester United have signed Cristiano Ronaldo on a two-year deal and to maximize his output, it is important for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to use him wisely. At 36 years old, the Portuguese isn't the same player as before with age catching up. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner can sometimes be seen not having the desired intensity to work without the ball.
Rotating him properly and using him as an impact substitute will help the Norwegian tactician extract the maximum out of Ronaldo. Solskjaer grew into a legend of the club through his role as a super sub. But whether he can hand his club's biggest superstar that role remains to be seen.
#4 With Manchester United chasing a match, bringing Cristiano Ronaldo on could be a game changer
Cristiano Ronaldo may no longer be the beast that he was in his first Manchester United stint or at Real Madrid. However, he is still one of the most feared attackers in the game.
His sharpness and finishing prowess, coupled with his aerial abilities, make him a tough forward to handle for most defenders.
So if the Portuguese is introduced with Manchester United chasing a match, he could be much more impactful. Ronaldo's star status could also ruffle a few feathers and unsettle already tired defenders.
#3 Mason Greenwood can flourish better
Although Mason Greenwood has played majorly on the flanks for Manchester United in his short career so far, it's in the central areas that he brings out his best. But Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival has limited the areas that Greenwood can take up.
Ronaldo's lack of pressing also adds to Greenwood's work profile, further limiting the 20-year-old's moevement in his preferred areas. With Cavani, however, Greenwood gets all the freedom to take up areas from where he can maximize his output.
So if Greenwood is stationed alongside Cavani in a Manchester United eleven, chances are that he will bring out more of his best than he can with Cristiano Ronaldo.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo isn't mobile enough for Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo was the worst at pressing among all forwards who had played more than 270 minutes in the ongoing Premier League season at the start of the month. The 36-year-old had made 2.7 pressures per 90 minutes, which is way below the second-worst on the list - Newcastle United's Allan Saint-Maximin with 5.2.
Ronaldo's lack of movement and pressing forces the other Manchester United attackers to mop up for the Portuguese, creating gaps for the opponents to exploit.
Bruno Fernandes, who plays right behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the 4-2-3-1 set up that Solskjaer employs, is often caught covering for his compatriot. Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood, who have been the manager's first-choice players on the flanks, have also been forced to make extra runs to make up for Ronaldo's lack of it.
#1 Edinson Cavani better suited to Manchester United's style of play
Edinson Cavani's game time was sure to reduce drastically as Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United. Coupled with injury issues, Cavani has so far made just six appearances for United this season, playing a mere 171 minutes.
However, his impact and ability to press high makes him an important player for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Cavani's drive to press deep was well-documented in Manchester United's last-gasp UEFA Champions League win over Villarreal. It was the Uruguayan who did all the hard work as Ronaldo stole the plaudits for the winner.
Cavani's returns since joining Manchester United in 2020 have been impressive too. In 45 appearances, most of them as a substitute, he has scored 17 goals and provided six assists.
Cavani's movement and the positions he can occupy allows the side's attacking midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba more space. Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo's lack of movement and industry has hampered United recently, highlighting how Cavani is better-suited to Manchester United's style of play.
The Portuguese can therefore be used as an impact substitute by the Manchester United manager while Cavani takes the starting role.
