Wayne Rooney's advice for Cristiano Ronaldo would go against Erik ten Hag's Man Utd plan

The reasons for turning down Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer request would appear to be decreasing after comments made by Wayne Rooney re-emerged.

Ronaldo has demanded he be allowed to leave Manchester United this summer, having been back at Old Trafford for just a year. Though he enjoyed a fine individual campaign, the Red Devils endured a dreadful season, missing out on qualification for the Champions League.

That dire performance saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked, with Erik ten Hag now arriving as their new permanent boss. The Dutchman is expected to shake up United's dressing room following their awful campaign that saw them record their lowest ever Premier League points total.

Ten Hag had been planning to keep Ronaldo for his first year in charge at Old Trafford. But his bombshell request now makes that unlikely, with precious few logical reasons to keep the wantaway superstar.

That has been shown even further by comments that Rooney made upon his return to United last summer. The Red Devils legend had made it clear that other players would have to pick up the slack given the change in Ronaldo's style of play.

“He’s still one of the best players in the world. He has won titles everywhere he has been so he is going to be huge. He will score goals and I’m sure he will be on penalties [too]. Where would I play him? As a striker," Rooney said last August.

"He’s a striker and the other nine outfield players behind him will probably have to do a little bit more work because when you’ve got someone like Cristiano you want him fresh around the box. He still wants to be the best and I’m sure he will have a big impact on them this season.”

If Ten Hag reads Rooney's analysis, it will certainly make him less inclined to