The moment Gary Neville spotted change in Cristiano Ronaldo's relationship with Man United teammates
Gary Neville has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Manchester United after spotting a positive change in the atmosphere between the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and his teammates.
Speculation over the future of Ronaldo, 37, was at fever pitch during the summer transfer window. However, after expressing a desire to leave, no suitors came forward and he was forced to stay put at Old Trafford.
Since then, the Portugal captain has played a bit-part role for United and Erik ten Hag - although he did score the winner against Everton last Sunday afternoon. It was after that goal at Goodison Park that Neville thinks he saw evidence of a warmer relationship between Ronaldo and his teammates.
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Speaking to Mirror Online, he said: "What I would hope is that, like with any player coming towards the end of his career, that he'll accept that he won't play every single game and he'll stay and become a massive contributor like he was on Sunday night. If Ronaldo stays, they have a far better chance of being a top-four team.
"But I suspect his mentality, his psyche is such that he can't not play. He feels this is an insult and people I respect enormously in the game think he's being disrespected by being on the bench, but I don't see that at all. I think Erik ten Hag has come out of this really well."
Neville added: "For me, I hope he can somehow think; 'Where am I going to play where the fans love me as much? Where there are still trophies on the table? In the summer, no-one wanted him in the window. I think United have played it pretty well, this one.
"He's playing, doing the right things on and off the pitch. There are no conversations coming out about