Cristiano Ronaldo moment is proving critics wrong about Manchester United concern

A goal. A smile. A joke. A winner and suddenly everything is looking brighter for Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford.

The dream return to Manchester United has descended into a, if not a nightmare then certainly a fitful sleep over the last few months. Though the team trudged to its worst-ever Premier League finish last season, Ronaldo still remained as clinical as ever in front of goal with 24 strikes to his name. Easily United's top scorer.

Yet, his inclusion in the side was an unplanned disruption that erased the progress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was making. Ronaldo's fading mobility and lack of pressing severely impacted the team, which scored considerably less as a whole despite his own healthy return.

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While Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick couldn't drop Ronaldo for long, Erik ten Hag has no such qualms and has given him just one start in the Premier League to date. This comes after a frustrating summer for the Portuguese as his wish to depart didn't come to pass.

Not having any Champions League-level clubs come forward to sign him must have been a stinging blow that could only be compounded by his lack of playing time. Ronaldo often comes on but has cut an increasingly frustrated figure this season.

It was clear how desperate he was to get back among the goals with his angry reactions in the direction of teammates who didn't get a pass to him or his exasperation when his own chances didn't hit the mark.

The nadir came last weekend when Ronaldo was left sitting on the bench by Ten Hag as Manchester City destroyed his side. The constant camera cuts to the No.7 painted a picture of a forlorn man who would rather have been anywhere else.

Ronaldo's