Gary Neville implores Ronaldo to lead United through Premier League slump

Gary Neville has implored Cristiano Ronaldo to assume a leadership role at Manchester United following their disastrous start to the season - despite the Portuguese star wanting to leave Old Trafford.

United currently sit bottom of the Premier League table following two consecutive defeats, with the ongoing uncertainty of Ronaldo's future at the club appearing the bleed into their performances on the pitch.

Appearing on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Neville explained his belief that the 37-year-old striker is the only member of Erik ten Hag's squad that is capable of leading United out of the ongoing struggles.

Speaking on his issues with Ronaldo's on-field antics amid the ongoing speculation regarding the forward's future at Old Trafford, Neville said: 'That's where I am a little bit critical about Cristiano.

'You're the man, you're the star. You're the best player in the world. Come on. Now's not the time to be throwing your arms around. Now's not the time to be walking off the pitch.'

Neville said that, while he understands Ronaldo's desire to leave the club, he believes the Portuguese could play a vital part in United's resurgence should he choose to stay.

'Now's the time to be leading those people, but he wants to leave. And that might happen and who can blame him?' Neville said.

'He wants to finish his career at a club that's achieving great things. But I do think he's the only player in that dressing room that could lead them. He's the only one with the in-built resilience and mental strength.'

Neville has previously called for Ronaldo to break his silence now on his ongoing transfer saga, rather than waiting two more weeks for the transfer window to shut.

The Portuguese forward has threatened to lift the lid on the 'truth' relating to his transfer stand-off with United in a bombshell interview 'in a couple (of) weeks'.

'Why does the greatest player of all time (in my opinion) have to wait two weeks to tell Manchester United fans the truth? Stand up now and speak,' Neville said.

'The club is in crisis and it needs leaders to lead. He’s the only one who can grab this situation by the scruff of the neck!'

Neville also revealed he has sympathy with the current United squad, despite their failings this season.

'I do feel sorry for the players and that won't go down well with a lot of Manchester United fans, who'll say they're overpaid and bluffing it. They're not. I know some of those lads - they're good lads,' he said.

'If they were sat here now with me and you, you'd be thinking there's an element of vulnerability there, there is a lack of confidence, they're crying out for help.'

United have endured their worst-ever start to a Premier League season under Ten Hag, with a number of ongoing transfer sagas only further damaging the club's already tainted reputation.

Frenkie de Jong now looks unlikely to join the club despite being earmarked as Ten Hag's top targets prior to the transfer window, and a failure to agree on personal terms means French international Adrien Rabiot is also unlikely to make the switch to Old Trafford this summer. United have now turned their attention to Real Madrid's Casemiro.

Neville explained that a lack of senior players to look up to in leadership roles is one of the main reasons for his beloved side's disastrous start to the campaign, and noted the differences between the current crop of players compared to the one that he emerged in under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s

'I used to walk out in the tunnel with Peter Schmeichel in front of me, Roy Keane in front of him. I felt safe. I was 21, 22, 23 years of age.' Neville said.

'I felt comfortable because I knew I was being looked after by experienced people. I knew I wasn't alone. These players go out on the pitch now and feel alone. They don't feel like they've got anybody.'