Graeme Souness Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Will Struggle Against Virgil van Dijk
Graeme Souness believes Cristiano Ronaldo will struggle against Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk when he returns to the Premier League after agreeing a deal with Manchester United.
The 36-year-old bid farewell to Juventus on Friday and is nearing a sensational return to United. But Souness believes he will struggle to perform against Van Dijk and the top flight’s other hard-hitting centre-backs.
He told talkSPORT: "Every successful team has players where everyone is working to get the ball back. The top teams don't have any passengers and if you're taking Ronaldo at this time, he ain't going to give you the hard yards.
? ”He’s not going to be the difference in big games.”
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 27, 2021
? ”His legacy goes out the window overnight if he signs for City.”
Graeme Souness isn’t sure Ronaldo is the player he used to be. pic.twitter.com/3WwemWhRNl
"I have got a doubt about it. Juventus took him to win the Champions League, but he's not going to be the difference in the big games. He'll score goals, he will, because he's got a brain and he's been so athletic throughout his career. But in the bigger games against the better centre-halves... imagine putting him against Virgil van Dijk!"
United host Liverpool on October 24 and all eyes will be on the Portugal captain to see how he performs against the Dutchman.