BRUNO FERNANDES seemed to give a blow to the missing star Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting that Manchester United is BETTER without him on the team.
The 37-year-old icon has missed the pre-season tour in Australia for “personal reasons”.
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Bruno Fernandes was full of praise for Anthony MartialCredit: AFP
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His comments also seemed like an excavation to his absent teammate Cristiano RonaldoCredit: AP
And that has paved the way for Anthony Martial to seize the opportunity for a rebirth of United.
He scored and assisted in the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
Fernandes has congratulated the Frenchman for his work without a ball, implying that he, and therefore the team, is more effective than when Ronaldo plays.
The game creator, 27, said: “The three boys in front [Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Martial] they are really aggressive in the press.
“When they press they make the last line narrow and make the middle of the field rise a little higher.”
And Red Devils fans on social media were full of praise for Martial, who now has three goals in three games.
One said, “Martial is on fire. Who needs Ronaldo?”
Another joked: “Cristiano Ronaldo can leave now … Martial is back.”
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And a third said, “I never thought I’d say that, but I’d rather start the season with Martial than with Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo and Fernandes are friends of both United and Portugal internationally.
And while the couple clearly have a friendship and the comments weren’t directly aimed at Ronaldo, they could suggest rumors of more discontent in the locker room.
Ronaldo’s future is unclear.
He thought of leaving Old Trafford in early summer, but new boss Erik ten Hag is keen to keep the five-time Golden Ball winner.
The former Real Madrid ace continues to train in Portugal with his eldest son Cristiano Jr. and his friends Jose Semedo and Miguel Paixai.
Ronaldo himself has revealed that he will not return to Sporting, as he insisted that speculation of a return to the José Alvalade Stadium is “false” news.
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Martial scored his third goal in so many preseason games Credit: AFP