Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo would have scored around 30 goals this season if he had joined Manchester City instead of Man United, believes Red’s legend Peter Barnes, cited by the Mirror.
“His goal record is great for a 37-year-old, but I think if he had come to City, he'd probably have 25 goals now, because the good players there would have found him a lot easier,” suggested Barnes in an interview with the outlet.
Furthermore, according to the pundit, who back in his day played for both Manchester clubs, at Man City they “would have had the vision and the technique to put him in… on a goal”.
“Then there's the other argument that his legs have gone and he's not got the pace he had four of five years ago. I think what's probably got him frustrated is that he's not had the same service he's been used to in the past and people haven't seen him,” insisted Barnes.
The Portuguese forward had stunned the football world last summer, announcing his return to the Red Devils - the club where he won eight major trophies from 2003-2009 - after opting to quit Italy’s Juventus ahead of his contract expiring in June 2022.
Amid a swathe of rumours that had linked Ronaldo at the time with a reportedly mulled move to Real Madrid, PSG or Manchester City, bombshell news had delivered the verdict: the forward was returning to the Old Trafford after a lightening-swift deal to re-sign him from the Turin-based Serie A club.
29 August 2021, 10:15 GMT
There had been reports that Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-teammates like Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra had convinced the forward not to play for United's rivals.
While Cristiano Ronaldo had made a strong start, claiming nine goals in his first 11 appearances, he then went into a protracted goal drought in recent months. Barnes blamed Ronaldo's United teammates for the 37-year-old’s struggled to find the back of the net.