When the dust settles, Cristiano Ronaldo’s already-infamous interview with Piers Morgan could be exactly what Manchester United needed.
There was a public calling out of the Glazers, shedding a much-needed light a lack of investment in the facilities at Old Trafford and Carrington. And, after turning on Erik Ten Hag, Ronaldo also handed United a gift-wrapped opportunity to solve one of their biggest problems on the field too. Namely, what to do with a player who’s presence, on the pitch and in the stands, feels like little more than an ageing, arm-flapping obstacle to Ten Hag’s hopes of making his Old Trafford spell a success.
Then again, even an admittedly-fading force of a footballer will need some replacing.
As Fabrizio Romano points out via The United Stand, a resurgent Man United side were not planning to go all-out for a new striker in January. Now, that plan looks set to change, presuming Ronaldo’s seemingly-inevitable exit leaves Ten Hag one centre-forward down.
Whether Cody Gakpo is the man in question remains to be seen. The PSV Eindhoven talisman is not a the sort of out-and-out centre-forward United are arguably crying out for. Cutting in from the left onto his right foot; the speedy Gakpo has more in common with Marcus Rashford than, say, an Anthony Martial.
What Gakpo would provide, however, is some much-needed firepower and end product for a United side struggling to turn chances into goals. In 24 games, the Dutch international has 13 goals and a further 17 assists in 2022/23.
Cristiano Ronaldo out, Cody Gakpo in at Manchester United?
What’s more, with high-quality attackers likely to be at a premium in January – the likes of Juventus and Napoli are not going to let Dusan Vlahovic or Victor Osimhen go without a fight – Gakpo feels like one of the more affordable and ‘gettable’ options on United’s radar; particularly considering PSV’s well-publicised financial issues. He also suits Ten Hag’s style of play far better than the immobile, ineffective Ronaldo.
Either way, the timing and content of Ronaldo’s Talk TV interview will create ripples throughout European football; Man United’s cross-Pennine rivals Leeds potentially one such club likely to be affected.
How does Ronaldo interview affect Leeds United?
Leeds, after all, still harbour hopes of luring Gakpo to Elland Road in January after seeing a £30 million bid rejected over the summer. Per The Mirror, personal terms have already been agreed. There is a feeling, however, that Gakpo is now holding out for a club higher up the footballing pyramid. And even the most hard-nosed Leeds supporter would have to admit that they do not possess the pulling power of Manchester United, with their vast financial wealth and prospective Champions League football.
“I was close to leaving,” the £40 million-rated Gakpo told The Times in an eye-opening interview of his own. “I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United.
“In the end, the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame for me and my development. Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world. “(In the final week of the window) I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end, I stayed.”
Presuming Ronaldo has just forced Man United to bring their transfer plans forward a couple of months, Leeds loss could perhaps become Erik Ten Hag’s gain.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
