Rio Ferdinand explains why he can’t accept Cristiano Ronaldo theory at Man Utd

To exclude, to expel:

Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines for Manchester United on Saturday with a stunning hat-trick against Tottenham and Rio Ferdinand dismissed a theory about his former team-mate

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Rio Ferdinand has dismissed suggestions that Manchester United are a stronger team without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portuguese superstar score a devastating hat-trick let United lead them to an important home win to Tottenham on Saturday night.

That treble, 59 ^order During the striker’s brilliant career, Ronaldo has scored 807 goals in his club and international career – more than any other player in football history, according to the calculations of FIFA.

Ronaldo, 37 years old, missed United’s modest defeat in the Manchester derby against Man City last week with suggestions that Ralf Rangnick’s side could pose a greater threat of attack without him around.

Before Saturday’s stunning individual performance in helping knock Spurs down, the veteran forward had scored just 9 goals Premier League goals in 23 appearances.

Let’s say yours! Can Ronaldo lead Man Utd to the top 4 in the Premier League? Let us know what you think here.

However, Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Ferdinand has dismissed the theory that the Red Devils could be the better team without the Portuguese star in their starting XI.

Speaking ahead of United’s second leg Champions League Round of 16 against Atletico Madrid, Ferdinand emphasized how the club made it past the group stage only thanks to Ronaldo’s game-shaping genius.

Ronaldo – who has lifted the league five times, including alongside Ferdinand in 2008 – has scored six goals in five group stage appearances to put United at the top of the table.

After scoring in the opening day loss to Young Boys, Ronaldo scored late goals at home to Villarreal and Atalanta respectively, before scoring twice in the away draw in Italy and in a two-goal win in Spain.

Ferdinand told Mirror Football: “Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Man United would not be in the Champions League.

“Is United a stronger team without him? I cannot agree with that at all.

“If he hadn’t played with Man United, they would have made it through the group stage.

“A player with his ability and talent, someone as determined as he is, who has shown it over the years and this season he can make the difference.

“Man United is not a team that thinks ‘okay, we’re too good to have someone like that on our team’.”

Following Anthony Martial’s departure from Sevilla in January, other naturalized United strikers in the squad were Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Anthony Elanga.

Ronaldo’s treble on Saturday has taken him up to 18 goals in 31 appearances since his return to Old Trafford as he sets his sights on the 16-year-old ^order consecutive season scoring at least 20 goals.

The Portuguese sensation looks set to do more damage for Atletico Madrid in Tuesday night’s Old Trafford encounter – after beating Diego Simeone’s side with Real Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals, along with knocking them out with a hat-trick for Juventus in 2019.

BT Sport is the exclusive home of the UEFA Champions League football tournament. Watch Manchester United v Atletico Madrid on Tuesday 15 ^order March from 7pm live on BT Sport 2, online and on the BT Sport app. For more information, visit btsport.com