Ex-Man Utd striker Louis Saha hits out at Wayne Rooney over Cristiano Ronaldo dig

Louis Saha says Wayne Rooney was ‘wrong’ to suggest Manchester United should move on from Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo made a dramatic return to Old Trafford over the summer, 12 years on from the conclusion of his first spell at United.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is the club’s top scorer this season on 18 goals across all competitions despite the team’s overall struggles, but Rooney feels his former club need ‘young, hungry players’.

Asked if signing of Ronaldo has worked out for United, Red Devils legend Rooney said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: ‘You’d have to say no, at the minute.

‘I think he’s scored goals, he’s scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season. He scored the hat-trick against Tottenham.

‘But I think if you look to the future of the club you would have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best to lift Manchester United over these next two, three years.

‘And obviously Cristiano is getting on a bit. He certainly isn’t the player he was when he was in his 20s. And that happens, that’s football. He’s a goal threat but I think the rest of the game they need more, they need young, hungry players.’

However, former United striker Saha disagrees with Rooney, and feels Ronaldo is being ‘targeted’.

‘I don’t understand. I’m a bit surprised. To target Cristiano Ronaldo and say we need to move on is wrong,’ Saha told Boyle Sports.

‘Why don’t we build young players around Cristiano? Let them learn and improve around him.

‘If those players cannot improve and grow then they are not good enough.

‘I don’t agree at all and I think Cristiano has done an enormous sacrifice, but under criticism he has done well.

‘The team hasn’t played well and I don’t like Cristiano being targeted.’