EPL: I don’t see the point in disrespecting best footballer ever – Souness slams Ten Hag

 

Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness has slammed Erik ten Hag and Manchester United for stopping Cristiano Ronaldo from leaving Old Trafford over the summer and now disrespecting the football icon.

Manchester United and Ten Hag were reluctant to allow the 37-year-old leave the club last summer even when he attempted to make a second Old Trafford exit.

The former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar has started just one Premier League game this season and Souness sees this as a disrespect to the 37-year-old.

The Portugal international was kept on the bench throughout the 90 minutes of the Sunday’s Manchester derby, with Ten Hag opting for Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony and later introducing Anthony Martial.

Speaking after the embarrassing defeat to Manchester City, Ten Hag had told reporters he did not use the superstar ‘out of respect.’

But Souness told talkSPORT, “Ronaldo has an argument for saying, ‘I’ve been the best player ever’ – he can sit with any group of players in the history of the game if they were still alive and argue that,” Souness said.

“So, the disrespect Manchester United are showing him now, I don’t see the point in going through the aggravation which they have done in making him stay to not use him.

“It’s disrespectful not to use him. I don’t buy that [Ten Hag’s explanation], I think you’re showing more disrespect by not using him.”

Cristiano Ronaldo scored over 22 goals for the multiple Premier League Champions last season, helping them qualify for the Europa League.