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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Cristiano Ronaldo slammed for Manchester United decision amid Lionel Messi comparison

Cristiano Ronaldo has been slammed for returning to Manchester United last summer, while Lionel Messi's move to Paris Saint-Germain has also been branded a 'mistake'.

After scoring 118 goals during his first spell with the Premier League giants, Ronaldo sealed his sensational return to Old Trafford around the same time Messi swapped Barcelona for PSG. They continue to be compared across the board.

In the twilight of his glittering career, Ronaldo has scored 18 goals from 32 appearances this season. However, from a team perspective, his second coming has not gone according to plan.

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel breaks silence on Manchester United speculation

United's Premier League title dreams lasted little more than a couple of months. Meanwhile, they can no longer win a trophy this season after losing to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Messi and star-studded PSG suffered similar heartbreak in the last 16 of the marquee European competition. Messi does, though, appear set to end the campaign with a Ligue 1 medal.

Speaking about Ronaldo and Messi, former Premier League striker Nicolas Anelka told RMC Sport: "Their careers are over and I think they must both be very happy with what they have achieved in the last 15 years. They were above the others and now it is normal for them to slow down.

"I was more surprised with Messi than with Ronaldo. I thought that Messi would turn around in France and Ronaldo would have more difficulties in England. Because, for me, the Premier League is the most demanding championship.

"[They] were not intelligent. They should have thought about [taking on] a less complicated challenge because you have to make the right decisions to finish at the top. There are players who don't hesitate to finish at 32, 33, 34 so as not to be criticised. I stopped at 36, but at 32 I went over to China."

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