“My problem started when we signed him. The players stopped playing well all of a sudden. I couldn’t control the situation at that time, that was the same thing tha happened with him and Erik Ten Hag”-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has finally admitted what Manchester United fans always suspected was the problem about Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United which is still affecting the club now.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up about his decision to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United during his time as manager, confirming what many fans have long suspected about the Portuguese star’s return to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo first made his name at United after joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 for over £12 million, stepping in as David Beckham’s replacement. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, he won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and his first Ballon d’Or before moving to Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-record £80 million.

At Madrid, Ronaldo cemented his legacy with two La Liga titles, four more Champions League trophies, and another four Ballon d’Ors. After a successful stint at Juventus, where he won two Serie A titles following a €100 million transfer, Ronaldo made an emotional return to United in the summer of 2021, reuniting with his former teammate Solskjaer.

However, Ronaldo’s second spell at United didn’t match the success of his first. His time at the club ended abruptly under Erik ten Hag after an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, in which Ronaldo criticized various aspects of the club. His contract was mutually terminated, and the now 39-year-old moved to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Solskjaer, who left United in November 2021 following a string of poor results, has now shed light on the impact of Ronaldo’s return. Speaking at the Oslo Business Forum, Solskjaer admitted that United signed Ronaldo to prevent him from joining rivals Manchester City, but believes the move may have altered the dynamics of the dressing room, leaving some players feeling sidelined.

“Cristiano, one of the best players in the world for the last 15 years, played for Manchester United and had history with the club. He was leaving Juventus, but we couldn’t let him go to Manchester City,” Solskjaer said. “He probably would have scored more goals than Erling Haaland is now.”

He continued, “I spoke to Cristiano, we brought him back to United, but I think it may have affected the dressing room. Other players might have felt less important because, of course, he is one of the world’s biggest superstars.”

Solskjaer acknowledged Ronaldo’s contributions, noting that he was the club’s top scorer that season with 24 goals, but added, “I was out of a job 10 weeks later.”

Since leaving United, Solskjaer has not returned to football management, though he has expressed interest in coming back to Old Trafford in some capacity. Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr is set to expire next year.