Ronaldo continued to dig United out of holes in the Champions League in midweek with a double in a 2-2 draw at Atalanta as he struck late to salvage points for the third time in four European games.

The 36-year-old now has nine goals in 12 games since returning to the club that first made him a household name.

Had things gone differently in the final days of August, Ronaldo could have been lining up in City blue for Saturday's game.

Indeed it was City's interest in the five-time Ballon d'Or winner that appeared to spark United's move to sign Ronaldo from Juventus despite already boasting an over-subscribed array of talent for attacking positions.

Despite Ronaldo's strike rate, the initially proposed deal to go to City might have been more beneficial for all parties.

Pep Guardiola's men have shone at times this season, but have also missed a clinical finisher as they failed to score at home to Southampton and Crystal Palace to fall five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

United are three points further back after a run of one win in five league games.

The Red Devils have won in just five of Ronaldo's 12 appearances, while the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have been marginalised.

A 3-0 win at Tottenham last weekend bought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer some time as United boss.

But the defensive frailties that Liverpool exposed in a 5-0 humiliation of Solskjaer's men less than two weeks ago were on show once more in Italy on Tuesday, especially after Raphael Varane limped off with a hamstring injury.

All these Ronaldo this, Ronaldo that poss me off. He is in a team that win only once in six game and people still dey make noise.

oyatainer:
All these Ronaldo this, Ronaldo that poss me off. He is in a team that win only once in six game and people still dey make noise.

If at 36 e easy make u go do am. U think say na small thing. Even Messi for France cudn't register a single goal or assist contribution in farmers league shey if e enter united will he see anything to even play with this crop of bad players? U think to play for this utd team and try to keep saving their asses dey easy rt? Smh

united fans, coach, technical crew n even owners are supposed to know dt this cr7 dependency cnt work bcoz he Is passed his prime, he was younger in Juve n it didnt work against lesser teams in d UCL, no need to wait for miracles or luck if other players dnt step up

eskorelvis:


If at 36 e easy make u go do am. U think say na small thing. Even Messi for France cudn't register a single goal or assist contribution in farmers league shey if e enter united will he see anything to even play with this crop of bad players? U think to play for this utd team and try to keep saving their asses dey easy rt? Smh

my guy abeg leave messi PSG issues from dis cr7 n united bcoz its unrelated...united are drowning even with cr7 scoring in some games BT messi is having bitter sweet PSG start in paris..
messi av scored 3 in 3 in UCL BT no goal in d league bt still PSG are topping d league wt a massive 10 points meaning his goal drought doesnt affect dm unlike cr7 dt do lose games without him scoring..
PSG will still win d league without messi scoring bt united CNT, d people of paris may b happy if leo keep scoring in UCL unlike united dt always needs cr7 goals in all games....

paulolee:

my guy abeg leave messi PSG issues from dis cr7 n united bcoz its unrelated...united are drowning even with cr7 scoring in some games BT messi is having bitter sweet PSG start in paris..
messi av scored 3 in 3 in UCL BT no goal in d league bt still PSG are topping d league wt a massive 10 points meaning his goal drought doesnt affect dm unlike cr7 dt do lose games without him scoring..
PSG will still win d league without messi scoring bt united CNT, d people of paris may b happy if leo keep scoring in UCL unlike united dt always needs cr7 goals in all games....

The fact remains, psg can do without Messi. Period. Even d 3 goals una dey shout sef that he scored in ucl, it's Mbappe alone dat assisted all those goals tonhim. He cudve scored them all by himself. And also tell me, if Messi can't deliver in France, then how much more in england esp with this crop of players?

eskorelvis:


The fact remains, psg can do without Messi. Period. Even d 3 goals una dey shout sef that he scored in ucl, it's Mbappe alone dat assisted all those goals tonhim. He cudve scored them all by himself. And also tell me, if Messi can't deliver in France, then how much more in england esp with this crop of players?

d same messi dt has scored all EPL top teams even more than ur cr7...
d same messi dt conquered a more tougher la liga in almost a decade..
my gee, its too early to start ur rating bcox its jus 5 games, its more funny seeing u say dt mbappe alone is leading dis paris side..
d point is dt, if PSG wins d UCL, it would be credited to messi influence bcox dt ur same mbappe n neyma only reached finals...
DTS why I said It would be a failure if he doesn't win DM d ucl, no matter d goals or assist he had....it simply means a failed deal just like cr7 Turin saga.....

paulolee:

d same messi dt has scored all EPL top teams even more than ur cr7...
d same messi dt conquered a more tougher la liga in almost a decade..
my gee, its too early to start ur rating bcox its jus 5 games, its more funny seeing u say dt mbappe alone is leading dis paris side..
d point is dt, if PSG wins d UCL, it would be credited to messi influence bcox dt ur same mbappe n neyma only reached finals...
DTS why I said It would be a failure if he doesn't win DM d ucl, no matter d goals or assist he had....it simply means a failed deal just like cr7 Turin saga.....

Messi fanatics no get sense. Him not performing at psg can't tell u that he's a local champion? Or ur brain no fit tell u dat. He's synced to Barca. Let him enter manU and try scoring against City and d rest of d top 6 teams without d help of xavi, Iniesta and co and see if he can do it. U dey blab rubbish here and there. Ronaldo is tested and trusted, performed in portugal, england, Spain, Italy and never for once dis we hear he's struggling to net just ONE league goal. If na Ronaldo dey France he for don get like 20 ucl goals and league goals combined. Keep ass licking Messi upandan. And don't even whine urself cos psg no fit win ucl, they're an average team in all departments dat r just too good for their own league buh not d rest of Europe. Struggling to beat leipzig home and away. Make Bayern catch dem, u go swallow ur words. Abeg shift one side

eskorelvis:


Messi fanatics no get sense. Him not performing at psg can't tell u that he's a local champion? Or ur brain no fit tell u dat. He's synced to Barca. Let him enter manU and try scoring against City and d rest of d top 6 teams without d help of xavi, Iniesta and co and see if he can do it. U dey blab rubbish here and there. Ronaldo is tested and trusted, performed in portugal, england, Spain, Italy and never for once dis we hear he's struggling to net just ONE league goal. If na Ronaldo dey France he for don get like 20 ucl goals and league goals combined. Keep ass licking Messi upandan. And don't even whine urself cos psg no fit win ucl, they're an average team in all departments dat r just too good for their own league buh not d rest of Europe. Struggling to beat leipzig home and away. Make Bayern catch dem, u go swallow ur words. Abeg shift one side

ur opinion bro...u jus de shift table...u win abeeeg

paulolee:

ur opinion bro...u jus de shift table...u win abeeeg

Ofcourse I win, wetin u wan use counter me before?