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Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United has been one of the highlights of this summer's transfer window. The Portuguese's arrival strongly bolsters Manchester United's chances of winning the title this season.
That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo cannot help Manchester United win trophies entirely on his own. It will take a team effort for United to get any silverware this season.
Manchester United have a big enough squad to outshine Cristiano Ronaldo
The Red Devils have one of the best squads in Europe, possessing experienced and match-winning players. And it's not just the goals and assists that will matter, a solid defense combined with some fluid attacking play will be equally important.
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With the kind of squad Manchester United possess, Cristiano Ronaldo might not be the most influential figure come the end of the season.
On that note, let's take a look at the five Manchester United players who could potentially outshine Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2021-22 campaign:
#5 Jadon Sancho
Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho also arrived at United this summer. Since joining Borussia Dortmund in 2017, the young Englishman made 137 appearances, scoring 50 goals and 64 assists across all competitions.
At Dortmund, Sancho had a formidable partnership with Erling Haaland. If he manages to have a similar type of link-up with either Edinson Cavani or Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United fans will be in for a treat. With his mind-boggling dribbling and creative abilities, Sancho can create havoc for opponents.
Considering how Sancho could blossom under the guidance of Cristiano Ronaldo, it wouldn't be far-fetched to think he'd have a telling impact.
If everything goes well for him, Sancho might just outshine the Portuguese himself this season. However, it will all come down to his consistency as well. Sancho truly has the potential, nobody can take that away from him.
#4 Raphael Varane
The Frenchman is quite a decorated player given his successful career at Real Madrid. The former Lens defender won La Liga thrice and the UEFA Champions League four times with the Spanish giants.
Manchester United desperately needed a quality centre-back to form a solid partnership with Harry Maguire at the back. With Varane's arrival at United this summer, it will surely bring more composure at the back.
Varane, who was Cristiano Ronaldo's former team-mate at Real Madrid, looked solid on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite United's shaky start in the first half of the game, Varane did not panic and kept his composure. Given it was his first game in the Premier League, it certainly bodes well for the future.
With Varane's experience and strong reading of the game at the back,he can surely replicate what Ruben Dias did for Manchester City last season. This would be of more help to Manchester United given their problems at the back.
If the centre-back ends up being the commander of one of the stingiest defenses in the Premier League this season, he may end up outshining Cristiano Ronaldo.
#3 Mason Greenwood
Another Manchester United player who could outshine Cristiano Ronaldo would be Mason Greenwood. The 19-year-old has scored in all three Premier League games Manchester United have played so far.
Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival will be a major boost for Greenwood as the former Real Madrid man can guide the youngster a lot in terms of improving his skill-set.
Greenwood can play both as a striker and as a winger on the right side. With Cristiano Ronaldo bound to play regularly, we might see the two of them exchanging roles on the pitch time and again. Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenal finisher but Greenwood has also shown signs of being prolific in front of goal.
With Greenwood's ability to be clinical with either foot, the youngster has more unpredictability to his game. Given the current form, he is likely to play regularly and could turn out to be very vital for Manchester United at the end of the season.
#2 Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba's future at Manchester United may be uncertain but his form has been a big positive so far this season. The Frenchman's stellar performance in the 5-1 win against Leeds United in the first game was a delight to watch.
The 2018 World Cup winner ran the show at Old Trafford, producing the kind of display that justifies the potential he has in him.
Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United this summer will only motivate Pogba to do better. The former Juventus midfielder already has five assists to his name this season.
When on song, Pogba can orchestrate the game at his will and create goals with utter ease. His performance this season might just be the deciding factor in Manchester United's ambition to win some silverware.
#1 Bruno Fernandes
Words may not do justice in explaining how important Bruno Fernandes has been to Manchester United ever since he was signed in the 2019-20 season. The midfielder played a massive role in helping United finish second last season, contributing 18 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League.
He played a major role in bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to United and he'll be hoping to have a strong partnership with his compatriot on the field. Fernandes has already scored thrice this season with his stunning hat-trick in the opening game against Leeds United.
His movement upfront, combined with his tenacity and creative abilities, has already proved difficult to handle for opponents. He is an important player in how United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants his team to play. Purely considering Fernandes' impact since his arrival, he is of more importance to United right now than Cristiano Ronaldo.
With his desire to fight and never give up, Fernandes will remain a very influential player for Manchester United this season. And it is possible that his contributions to United this season might be more vital than anyone, including Cristiano Ronaldo.
