Rooney: Solskjaer must start winning trophies after Ronaldo arrival
Martin Macdonald
- 30 Aug 2021 11:44 BST
- 4 min read
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must win a trophy this season after the club's impressive transfer window, which includes the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Solskjaer was appointed caretaker boss at Old Trafford following the departure of Jose Mourinho before earning the job on a permanent basis.
Though he has received praise for instilling a homegrown base to the squad at Old Trafford after the acquisitions of the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho, as well as the development of Mason Greenwood, he is yet to win a major trophy despite huge money being spent in the transfer market.
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He finished sixth in the Premier League his first year, third in his second and then second in his third last season.
Prior to the Europa League final against Villarreal he lost four semi-finals on the bounce in the League Cup Twice, the Europa League the season previous and the FA Cup.
In Solskjaer's final as Man Utd manager against the Yellow Submarine, he lost that game also.
He has been backed in the transfer market, as this summer the club has spent £137 million on Sancho, Raphael Varane and now Ronaldo.
Rooney, a former team-mate of Solskjaer and Ronaldo, says the Norwegian needs to win a trophy soon.
"Cristiano is still one of the best players in the world and has won titles everywhere he’s been so he’s going to be huge," he predicted.
"He still wants to be the best and I’m sure he will have a big impact on them this season.
"Ole will certainly know that he’s in a position now where he needs to start winning these big titles with the players that he’s brought in."
Welcome 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, @Cristiano 🔴#MUFC | #Ronaldo
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2021
Ronaldo's failed Man City move
On Friday morning Juventus announced that Ronaldo had asked to leave the club, and by the Friday afternoon Man Utd confirmed an agreement had been reached to bring him back to Old Trafford.
In the hours between, however, rumours circulated that Ronaldo could actually move to Manchester City, who have been looking for a replacement for Sergio Aguero this summer.
Ronaldo was viewed as an alternative to Harry Kane after the England striker confirmed he would be staying at Tottenham this season.
Man Utd fans displayed their outrage on social media at the prospect of Ronaldo turning out in the sky blue of City, but Rooney was always skeptical that his former team-mate would actually sign for Man Utd's rivals.
"I just felt it didn’t seem right, it didn’t feel like it was ever going to happen," he said.
"His agent [Jorge Mendes] did his job because I knew that the minute there was any hope of him going for Man City, United would never let it happen."
