Ray Parlour has claimed that he wouldn’t want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United and he even added that Gabriel Jesus is a ‘better’ option as a number nine, as he told talkSPORT.
The Highbury hero added that, wherever Ronaldo goes next, the Manchester United legend will sign a ‘one-year contract’, but he wouldn’t take him at the Emirates Stadium this summer.
It has been well-documented that Ronaldo wants to head for the Old Trafford exit door, in search of Champions League football after his side’s sixth-placed finish last term.
That rules out Arsenal because they are in the same boat as their old rivals, in regards to both being set to compete in the Europa League next season.
But when Arsenal legend Parlour was asked about Ronaldo’s future and whether he would take the 37-year-old at his old club, he issued the following response.
“He’s going to have a one-year contract, wherever he goes, you’re not going to get more than a year’s contract,” said Parlour.
“Not now, I wouldn’t sign him for Arsenal. What happens to Jesus? And he has been superb. Where are you going to play Jesus?
“I think he is a better number nine. I think he’s good up front. Really good up front, as a centre-forward. From what I have seen from pre-season, he’s going to be very good. He’s lively.”
WHO WILL FINISH HIGHER – ARSENAL OR MANCHESTER UNITED?
It’s a big season ahead for both clubs and one where the duo will be very eager to secure Champions League football after missing out last time.
Mikel Arteta is further ahead in his project in north London than Erik ten Hag is at Manchester United, so it could be argued that there is more pressure on the former midfielder.
Either way, Arsenal’s summer transfer business, which has included some outstanding purchases, such as Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, will have caught the eye of those in Manchester and how they need to get their own act going in the transfer market.
There is still a long way to go until the summer transfer window slams shut and, at the end of the day, you can win the transfer window, but all that matters is what happens on the pitch.
The race for Champions League football went down to the wire last season and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same happens again.
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