You don't buy Cristiano Ronaldo to run and press people, proclaims Rio Ferdinand

Despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s prolific scoring form, the Red Devils have undergone a tumultuous start to the campaign as performances and results have taken a downturn under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season. Ronaldo hasn’t escaped from criticism aimed at him by pundits as they cite his lack of pressing from the front as an issue that puts considerable pressure on the United defense. Ferdinand has hit back at those suggestions by citing other influential forwards that do not necessarily put pressure on the opposition.

"It's b*llocks. You’re not talking about Joe Bloggs. You’re talking about one of the greatest, if not the greatest, goalscorers in the history of the game. You don’t buy him to run and press people. Real Madrid didn’t buy him in his pomp to go and press defenders - what do you want it now for? It makes no sense to me,” Ferdinand told The Athletic.