Kieran McKenna Warned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Against Signing Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 — Was It a Red Flag Manchester United Ignored?
When Manchester United announced the return of Cristiano Ronaldo in August 2021, the club, its fans, and the media were abuzz with excitement. The prodigal son was back at Old Trafford, rekindling memories of a golden era when Ronaldo, as a young and dazzling winger, helped bring United to the heights of European football. Yet, not everyone in the club was entirely sold on the idea of bringing the superstar back. Recently, former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed that Kieran McKenna, his then-assistant and now the manager of Ipswich Town, advised against the decision.
The revelation, made by Solskjaer during an interview, adds a fascinating new layer to the story of Ronaldo’s second stint with United — a spell that started with high expectations but quickly became riddled with controversy and disappointment. Solskjaer’s decision to go ahead with the signing, despite McKenna’s reservations, raises important questions about the dynamics at United during that period. Did United’s management act more on sentiment than on strategy? And what might have happened if McKenna’s advice had been heeded?
The Initial Spark: Why McKenna Opposed the Signing
Kieran McKenna, an astute tactician known for his attention to detail, had a strong understanding of how Ronaldo’s arrival could disrupt the squad’s balance. According to Solskjaer, McKenna voiced concerns about Ronaldo’s age, playing style, and the impact his presence might have on the development of United’s younger players, particularly rising stars like Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho.
McKenna was reportedly worried that Ronaldo’s signing would disrupt the progress of these younger forwards and force United to adopt a more rigid style of play centered around accommodating the Portuguese superstar. McKenna, known for a more pressing and dynamic tactical approach, feared that Ronaldo, at 36, might struggle to fit into this system, particularly given his limitations in pressing and tracking back defensively. However, the excitement surrounding Ronaldo’s availability, combined with a sense of nostalgia, seemed to overpower these tactical concerns.
Why Solskjaer Pushed Ahead with Ronaldo’s Signing
Solskjaer, a former teammate of Ronaldo’s, viewed the opportunity to bring the five-time Ballon d’Or winner back to Old Trafford as an irresistible prospect. There was a sense that Ronaldo’s arrival could help instill a winning mentality within the squad, setting an example for United’s younger players and perhaps even carrying them closer to title contention.
For Solskjaer, signing Ronaldo was also about legacy and ambition. He hoped that Ronaldo’s experience and star power would help United close the gap with title contenders like Manchester City and Liverpool. Yet, as Solskjaer has now admitted, he knew the decision came with risks — risks that McKenna had highlighted but that ultimately seemed worth taking in Solskjaer’s view.
The Fallout: How Ronaldo’s Arrival Impacted the Team
In his initial matches back in a United shirt, Ronaldo delivered what the fans had hoped for. He scored twice on his second debut against Newcastle United and became a regular scorer in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Yet as the season wore on, issues began to emerge. United’s performances became inconsistent, and Ronaldo’s style of play started to clash with the rest of the squad.
Ronaldo’s arrival meant a shift in United’s tactical approach. Under Solskjaer’s prior system, the team played with a fluid front three, where every forward pressed high up the pitch and created space for each other. But with Ronaldo as the focal point, the team had to adjust to his movements and style, and the pressing intensity was significantly reduced. The younger players who had once thrived in Solskjaer’s setup seemed to lose confidence, as they were relegated to secondary roles or forced to play around Ronaldo rather than express their own talents.
Moreover, as Ronaldo’s presence loomed large in the locker room, questions about leadership emerged. His influence reportedly created a hierarchy that unsettled the team’s chemistry, and younger players may have struggled to express themselves in his shadow. McKenna’s fears about Ronaldo affecting team dynamics appeared, in some ways, to come to fruition.
McKenna’s Advice Revisited: Was He Right?
Looking back, McKenna’s warnings seem prescient. The tactical limitations and off-field challenges created by Ronaldo’s return were significant factors in United’s struggles during that season. Although Ronaldo was United’s top scorer, his contributions on the field often appeared to come at the cost of the team’s overall cohesion and pressing strategy.
Solskjaer was eventually dismissed from his role in November 2021 after a string of poor results. His successor, Ralf Rangnick, faced the same difficulties in integrating Ronaldo effectively into a system that required energy and intense pressing. Rangnick, known for his high-pressing philosophy, found it difficult to impose his methods on a team that now revolved around a superstar who couldn’t fit that style. The tactical dissonance exacerbated United’s issues, leaving the club scrambling to salvage the season.
This season-long struggle only underscored the wisdom in McKenna’s concerns. If Solskjaer had heeded his assistant’s advice, United may have avoided the disruption that followed. Ronaldo’s reputation and skill were undeniable, but the team’s overall structure may have been better served by focusing on the long-term development of younger players.
What Could Have Been
Had McKenna’s advice been taken seriously, it’s intriguing to imagine how differently things might have turned out for United. The club may have been able to continue building around a young, dynamic core of forwards and adopt a style of play that aligned with Solskjaer’s vision. Without the need to accommodate Ronaldo, players like Rashford, Greenwood, and Sancho could have developed under a consistent system focused on movement, pace, and pressing.
Instead, United’s decision to bring back a player of Ronaldo’s stature became a case study in how sentiment and commercial appeal can sometimes overshadow practical, long-term planning. It serves as a reminder that building a cohesive team often requires difficult decisions, even if they mean forgoing opportunities that may be appealing in the short term.
McKenna’s Rise and United’s Reflection
Since leaving United, Kieran McKenna has continued to make strides in his career, establishing himself as a capable manager in his own right at Ipswich Town. His rise perhaps highlights what United could have benefited from if they had placed greater trust in his insights.
For Manchester United, Ronaldo’s return became a bittersweet chapter that serves as both a testament to his individual talent and a cautionary tale about the perils of short-term thinking. As the club looks to the future, the lessons from this saga may be instrumental in shaping a more balanced approach to recruitment — one that considers not only star power but also team dynamics, tactical cohesion, and long-term vision.