Gary Neville Makes Stunning Statement As Ronaldo Set To Miss Man United Clash Against City

• Gary Neville claims Man United are better off without Cristiano Ronaldo when they face Man City at the Etihad stadium
• Ronaldo, just like three other Manchester United stars, will miss the Premier League game due to injury
• Neville believes Ronaldo's absence offers Marcus Rashford the golden opportunity to step up and help the Red Devils to a win against their rivals

Gary Neville has claimed that the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo from Man United matchday squad to face Man City due to injury could be a good thing.

Ronaldo is among four Man United stars who were missing from the 21-man team that reported at The Lowry Hotel ahead of their clash against rivals Man City.

More Man United players missing at The Lowry Hotel

Incredibly, Ronaldo was not the only absentee at the hotel, with Edison Cavani also not making part of the team.

The defensive duo of Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw was also not in sight at The Lowry Hotel.

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But speaking ahead of today's game, Gary Neville was more particular about the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Neville feels Ronaldo's absence from today's game could be a blessing in disguise for Man United

Despite him being the club’s top goalscorer this season, Neville feels that the Portuguese not being there is “not a huge loss.”

The Sky Sports pundit said as quoted on Daily Star and Manchester Evening News: "United over the last three or four years have been a counter-attacking team, and that will be exactly the same today I think, with Ronaldo out of the team I think they might be better off with Rashford’s pace on the counter-attack today."

Ronaldo has only netted once in 2022 but has 15 goals in all competitions this season.

Barnes claims Ronaldo should have joined City instead of United

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Cristiano Ronaldo would have scored 25 goals by now if he had joined Man City in the summer rather than Manchester United, former England international Peter Barnes claims.

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Barnes believes Ronaldo would have scored more at Man City because they have good players there who would have fed him a lot easier.

Recall that Cristiano Ronaldo had been strongly linked with a Man City switch back in August, but Man United moved swiftly to hijack the deal.

Ronaldo has managed nine goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season, netting just once in his last eight Premier League outings.

He has however fared better in the Champions League, however, bagging six in six European games this term.