Manchester United and their hierarchy reportedly leaked rumours pointing towards bringing Zinedine Zidane in as their next permanent manager as a ‘tactic’ in order to keep star forward Cristiano Ronaldo happy following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November of 2021.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner returned to Old Trafford in the final days of the summer transfer window to hefty fanfare, but has cut a frustrated figure for large parts of the season. And, with Erik ten Hag thought to be an unpopular choice for many in the Red Devils’ dressing room, the Mirror report that links to Zidane were made in order to keep the veteran forward satisfied.
‘Manchester United reportedly used “baseless” rumours linking Zinedine Zidane with their vacant managerial position as a tactic to keep Cristiano Ronaldo happy’, the English outlet claim.
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Ronaldo to experience a Europa League season?
Cristiano Ronaldo has never experienced Europa League football before. Across his first spell at Manchester United, his time at Real Madrid and his stint with Juventus, he has always walked out to the Champions League anthem for his midweek football.
But that could be about to change, unless a change of scenery is on the menu for the 37-year-old this summer. Ronaldo’s goals have dried up, and Manchester United’s poor form elsewhere has left them sitting in 7th place in the Premier League, currently staring down the barrel of the Europa Conference League, the new third tier system in Europe, next season.
Top-4 hopes look dead and buried, too, with the Red Devils currently priced at 16/1 to overhaul the six point deficit to Tottenham in the final weeks of the season.
