Former Manchester United defender took a brutal dig at his Liverpool counterpart Jammie Carragher after he was snubbed by Cristiano Ronaldo for a handshake. United and Liverpool met at the Old Trafford for their first clash of the new season, as Jammie Carragher, Roy Keane and Gary Neville were in for punditry for Sky Sports.
Man United manager Erik ten Hag benched Ronaldo alongside Harry Maguire for the crunch game as Liverpool still found it difficult to cope with the home side’s intensity. Strikes from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford meant United picked their first win of the season, while inflicting a first loss on the Reds.
Cristiano Ronaldo keeps long-time critic Carragher hanging
Jammie Carragher has long doubted Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United last summer, over whether it has actually made the difference to the team or not. The Liverpool icon has even went on opine that Ronaldo’s arrival has kept United from playing the high-pressing football they want to.
Last week itself, Carragher had said that United should let go of the Portugal international who wants to leave the club for Champions League football. The former Liverpool defender had said: “I think it’s better for him [Cristiano Ronaldo] to go because he wants to go, he feels that himself, it’s pretty obvious.
“He said he’ll come out with a statement in maybe two weeks when the transfer window closes, but I just feel with Ronaldo, this big change of culture, quality, whatever Man United need to get on that path to chase down Liverpool and City over the last couple of years and start that building process, it feels like it can’t really start while Ronaldo’s there. Just because of the presence of the man, the age of him as well, it just feels like they need to be bringing in the next Ronaldo rather than the old Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo now gave it back to Carragher after he gatecrashed the player-turned-pundit’s conversation with Keane, Neville and host Dave Jones. While the 37-year-old shared a warm hug with former teammates Neville and Keane, he animatedly avoided a handshake with Carragher who was left with an awkward smile on his face standing between the two.
Taking it to his Twitter, Ferdinand couldn’t stop himself from poking fun at Carragher as he along with the videos wrote: “@Cristiano absolutely blanking @Carra23 there. Had you doing a 360 like the old days.”
@Cristiano absolutely blanking @Carra23 there ????
Had you doing a 360 like the old days ???? pic.twitter.com/YcfM8d1M3k— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) August 22, 2022
The Champions League winner with Liverpool too replied to Ferdinand, tweeting: “Bad night from start to finish! blanked by my good mate Ronaldo, Man Utd showing fight & quality & Liverpool all over the place!!”
Meanwhile, Liverpool are still searching for their first win of the season as they have now gone three without one. They are up next against newly promoted Bournemouth at home as manager Jurgen Klopp will demand a response from his players.