Gary Neville has called on Cristiano Ronaldo to be a ‘leader’ and speak publicly on Manchester United’s issues.
Ronaldo has suggested he will break his silence on the ‘media lies’ that have been told in an interview in the coming weeks, amid continued speculation surrounding his future and desire to leave the club.
The Portugal international is understood to want an exit from Old Trafford, but has so far been short of credible suitors. Ronaldo’s desire to leave comes amid an ambition to extend and maintain his individual records for appearances, goals, and assists in the Champions League, alongside personal reasons for wanting to move his family from Manchester.
"The media is telling lies." – Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram 😮
(via cr7.o_lendario/IG) pic.twitter.com/cDVFx3zg0G
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 16, 2022
Former teammate Gary Neville has now called on Ronaldo to open up immediately, insisting the Red Devils require leaders following a start to the season which has seen Erik ten Hag’s reign begin with consecutive defeats.
Saturday’s humiliating 4-0 loss at Brentford was the first time the club have conceded four goals in the opening 35 minutes of a Premier League fixtures and leaves United bottom of the Premier League for the first time since August 1992.
“Why does the greatest player of all time (in my opinion) have to wait two weeks to tell Manchester United fans the truth? Stand up now and speak,” Neville wrote on Twitter.
“The club is in crisis and it needs leaders to lead. He’s the only one who can grab this situation by the scruff of the neck!”
Two weeks remain until the transfer window closes, when it appears Ronaldo will reveal all. The 37-year-old has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, though both clubs have distanced themselves from a transfer.
