Premier League legend Alan Shearer is not happy with Cristiano Ronaldo's antics at Old Trafford during Manchester United's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Ronaldo refused to come on in the late stages of the match and then walked out of the stadium before the final whistle was blown, with all the attention drawn to him in what was among United's best performances in the Premier League this season.
Writing for The Athletic, Shearer blasted Ronaldo for his behaviour and reminded the Portuguese star that football's basic principle is that a team wins or loses together and such displays of selfishness had no place in the dugout.
"In a team game, where the basic principle is that you’re all in it together win or lose, such a display of selfishness and petulance is desperately unprofessional and it’s right that Ronaldo should be disciplined by Manchester United because of it. His was a terrible example to set and it’s a shame that instead of reflecting on their best performance of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, Ten Hag has been forced to talk about someone who only figured on the periphery," the former Newcastle captain said.
However, Shearer, who is also the highest goal scorer in the Premier League, came to Ronaldo's aid as well. Cutting him some slack and said that things need to be understood from the player's perspective as well. "He’s one of the biggest names the game has ever seen, a marvel for two decades, always the first name on the team sheet and the big-stage player who can reliably be called upon as a saviour, to win the game," the player wrote.
Shearer wrote that he was mindful of Ronaldo's frustration because for the first time in over 20 years that someone has come in and told him that he does not fit into the team's plans anymore.
"He’s been the main man, the focal point, the trophy-laden superstar, one of the best players in the world, if not the best, and now for the first time in his career, he has a manager telling him he’s no longer integral, that he can’t do something, instead of looking to him to make the impossible seem routine." Shearer wrote.
Ronaldo has been slammed with a ban from United's next fixture against Chelsea, but manager Erik ten Hag has said that the player is still in his plans for the future.
