Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
San Marino

Phil Jones snubs Cristiano Ronaldo as he names his dream Man Utd team

mirror.co.uk, 12 June 2022, 17:40
Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Matic have all made Phil Jones' dream Man Utd team but there's no place for Cristiano Ronaldo despite his exploits at Old Trafford

Phil Jones has overlooked Cristiano Ronaldo when naming his dream Manchester United 5-a-side team.

The centre-half has been at the Red Devils for a decade, although much of his career has been hampered by injury which has limited him to just 13 appearances in the past three seasons. His future in Manchester remains unclear with Erik ten Hag currently assessing his squad.

Jones was joined in the United ranks by Ronaldo last summer after the Portuguese star returned following 12 years away. The defender wasn't present for Ronaldo's first spell at Old Trafford, where he won the 2008 Ballon d'Or and opted to include some of United's other legend in his dream team when quizzed.

Edwin van der Sar was Jones' pick in goal. The Dutchman saved the crucial penalty as United won the Champions League and was a stalwart in between the sticks. In front of him, Nemanja Vidic and Steve Bruce form a strong backline, with both men renowned for their toughness.

Paul Scholes is Jones' choice of midfielder with the current United man spending a very brief period as teammates with the Class of 92 graduate. Scholes remains a legendary figure at Old Trafford, often hailed as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Wayne Rooney was Jones' pick in attack. The Everton-born star was his teammate for six seasons and the now Derby County manager ended up leaving United as the club's record goalscorer. It all means that Ronaldo was deemed surplus to requirements.

Who would be in your Man Utd 5-a-side team? Have your say in the comments!

The club's current No 7 lead the goalscoring charts last term, scoring 24 times in an underperforming side that finished sixth having been second the year prior to that. Ronaldo's leadership skills were called into question, as was his influence on the team's overall play.

Erik ten Hag has arrived in Manchester but he's been urged by Jamie Carragher to make a statement and offload Ronaldo. He said on the Overlap: "I'm convinced that Ten Hag has got to do it (sell) with Ronaldo, whether he's allowed to or not. I've said this consistently throughout this season: that was not a good signing. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time and I'm seen as a guy who's criticising Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo has never played in a team this bad. He's always played for great teams and his attitude of trying to be the main man, driving the team on, getting the goals, when you're in a great team that is seen as a positive. When you're not playing for a great team it can be seen as a negative and I think it has been this season. Man United can't go into next season with a centre-forward who will be 38, even if he does score goals. That's not right for Man United."

Top News

27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk If Inter Miami can claim a win or draw on Wednesday against Atlanta United, it would set a single-season franchise record for their longest MLS unbeaten run at Chase Stadium. 27 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A pair of MLS sides can end their lengthy winless runs on Wednesday as Sporting Kansas City host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Children's Mercy Park. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with Thomas Frank and Mauricio Pochettino over the manager's position at Old Trafford. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has reportedly spoken to a struggling Manchester United attacker to gauge his interest in a summer switch to the Emirates. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham have reportedly submitted an €8m (£6.8m) bid for Stuttgart attacker Silas. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have confirmed their first transfer of the summer window with the permanent exit of an out-of-favour defender. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City chiefs have supposedly resigned themselves to losing head coach Pep Guardiola when the 53-year-old's contract expires next summer. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Empoli pulled off a magnificent escape from the Serie A relegation zone on the final day with a 2-1 win over Roma, keeping Davide Nicola's men in the top flight as Frosinone went down to Serie B. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Making their first-ever trip to Estadio Hernando Siles on Tuesday, Palestino will square off with Bolivar on the final matchday in the group phase of the 2024 Copa Libertadores. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores will be on the line for Flamengo as they prepare to face Millonarios on Tuesday at the Maracana in the final group fixture for each team. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sir Jim Ratcliffe ignored a reporter when asked to answer a question about whether Erik ten Hag will remain in charge of Manchester United following the club's FA Cup final triumph. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Bayern Munich board are convinced that Thomas Tuchel refused their offers to stay at the club because he had already secured an agreement to join Manchester United, according to a report. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat has opened up on his future at the club, stating that "staying" with the Premier League giants is an "option. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Arabia have reportedly drawn up a plan to sign Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in 2025. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool target Antonee Robinson has admitted that he could leave Fulham if the club's asking price is met. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Adam Armstrong's first-half goal has sent Southampton back into the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Leeds United in Sunday's Championship playoff final. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly rejected the chance to sign a Feyenoord centre-back who made a name for himself under Arne Slot. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid stalwart Lucas Vazquez is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Burnley's James Trafford during the summer transfer window. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xavi is reportedly set to hold talks with a Premier League team following his imminent departure from Barcelona. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leeds United and Southampton have announced their teams for Sunday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Ederson has reportedly attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League ahead of this summer's transfer window. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has supposedly been left unhappy with the performances of one of his out-of-favour attackers in training. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to progress into the qualification rounds of the Conference League for a second straight season, Austria Vienna will meet Hartberg for the second leg of the European playoff in the Austrian Bundesliga on Tuesday night. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to decide Erik ten Hag's future at the club next week, following a review into the season. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly ruled out a move to Newcastle United during this summer's transfer window. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Already assured of a place in the Copa Libertadores knockout rounds, Atletico Mineiro welcome Caracas to Arena MRV for their closing Group G fixture on Tuesday evening. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AIK Fotboll are set to host IFK Goteborg at the Friends Arena in Sweden's Allsvenskan on Monday. 26 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to let Christian Eriksen leave this summer, although the player will wait until the club's managerial situation is sorted to make his own decision.