In a meeting with Ralf Rangnick last season, Cristiano Ronaldo demanded that Manchester United captain Harry Maguire be removed from the starting line-up.
The Red Devils suffered their worst season in Premier League history last season, finishing in sixth place with 58 points.
Ronaldo signed for the club at the end of August and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt he was the last piece of a puzzle as the team looked to build on last season’s second-place finish.
However, Solskjaer only lasted 13 matches with Ronaldo at the club.
Solskjaer was replaced by Rangnick in December, with the German looking to change the club’s style of play, moving from a counter attacking side to a high pressing style.
Ronaldo did not suit the system and Rangnick wanted to sell the 37-year-old in January after failing to adapt to his tactics.
The veteran’s frustration grew steadily over the previous campaign, and he led a meeting with Rangnick along with other senior members of the team, including Rafael Varane and Paul Pogba.
However, Maguire was absent despite his status as club captain, according to Athletic, so Ronaldo was able to tell Rangnick to drop the England ace.
Although Maguire was notably ill last season, he retained the trust of Solskjaer and Rangnik and praised him for his leadership skills.
Eric ten Hag was retained as club captain by Maguire, but the defender was dropped in United’s last two games against Liverpool and Southampton.
United conceded just once in that time and took their first two wins of the season.
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Source: Metro
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