Ole Gunnar Solskjær acknowledges that the decision to sign Cristiano Ronaldo during his tenure as Man Utd manager ultimately “didn’t turn out to be the right” move for the club.
The return of Ronaldo to Old Trafford in August 2021 was met with enthusiasm from the majority of the fanbase, with hopes that the Portugal superstar would propel Man Utd back to the pinnacle of English football.
However, it proved to be a misstep for Solskjaer, who was sacked within three months of Ronaldo’s arrival at Old Trafford.
While Ronaldo netted 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions in his first season, there were suggestions that the team performed better without him.
In his second season, Ronaldo managed only one Premier League goal in ten outings before a controversial interview with Piers Morgan led to the mutual termination of his contract, allowing him to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in December 2022.
Reflecting on the signing, Solskjaer remarked on the Stick to Football show, “It was a very quick decision. We didn’t think Cristiano was available and that he was going to move. When it became apparent that he was leaving Juventus, obviously other clubs wanted him – but I was excited.”
“They [United] asked me, ‘Would you want us to try this?’. I said yes. Obviously, we know Cristiano is quality, and he’s 37, but we have to manage – he’s the best goal-scorer in the world. It didn’t work out for me, it didn’t work out for Cristiano, but it was the right decision at the time.”
Solskjaer elaborated on the tactical adjustments required with Ronaldo in the squad, noting the impact on players like Edinson Cavani and Dan James, and ultimately concluded, “It was the right decision to make for me. It didn’t turn out to be the right one.”
