Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has discussed the impact ‘winners’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane will have on the Manchester United squad this season.
United secured the deadline day signing of Ronaldo from Juventus, securing an incredible deal to bring the former club great back to Old Trafford.
The Portugal captain returns over a decade after his world-record departure to Real Madrid, and as a winner of five Champions League trophies, five Ballon d’Ors, and two international tournaments during a career of huge success.
Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Varane – who boasts a World Cup winners’ medal and is himself and four-time winner of the Champions League – has also arrived as part of the club’s impressive recruitment and Solskjaer believes the duo will have a massive impact on his squad.
Solskjaer also confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Ronaldo will make his second debut for the Red Devils this weekend, as Newcastle visit Old Trafford tomorrow.
“Everyone is very happy to have him (Ronaldo) back. Looking forward to Saturday. He has had a good pre-season and played for the national team. He will get on the pitch at some point that’s for sure,” Solskjaer told his pre-match press conference.
“We know what he has achieved in his career and he has come in to achieve more. He has lived his life with the discipline of a top professional. He was the first one who did the prep really well. He would come in 45 minutes before training and we would look at this kid doing all this stuff before training. He will have the same effect now with all the players.
“The focus in the squad has improved. Cristiano and Raphael comes in and there is no place to hide with winners like that. You can’t give 95% in training when you have winners”.
