Man Utd analysts reveal CR7's somewhat disruptive influence at the club

Manchester United discovered one forward only ever passed to Cristiano Ronaldo to curry favour with the superstar, according to reports.

The Portuguese forward spent a tumultuous year and three months at Old Trafford after returning to the club from Juventus in summer 2021.

Ronaldo scored 27 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions in his second United stint but is seen by some to have been a disruptive influence at the club.

The veteran, 38, is now at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr after the Premier League giants terminated his contract in November following a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan criticising the club, manager Erik ten Hag and his team-mates.

And The Athletic report that United video analysts found one attacker would always pass the ball exclusively to Ronaldo so he could win praise from him.

Staff members looking into why a forward player was struggling for form studied footage before concluding he was giving it to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner because of his stellar reputation.

United team-mates were also said to be 'overwhelmed' by his personality, with several in awe of him and seeming to 'cower in his presence'.

His arrival is also linked with with 'many of those' who were previously growing in stature at United being negatively affected, in particular Harry Maguire.

Ronaldo at one point is believed to have told then-interim manager Ralf Rangnick he did not want struggling defender Maguire in the team.

That intervention is thought to have undermined the England centre half's authority as captain.

Maguire's travails have continued this season, with a poor performance in the club's 3-0 Europa League quarter-final second-leg loss against Sevilla.

With first-choice pair Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane out, boss Ten Hag has preferred to use Victor Lindelof and out-of-position left-back Luke Shaw in the centre rather than turn to the 30-year-old.

The Red Devils travel to Tottenham on Thursday evening knowing avoiding defeat will see them overtake Newcastle United into third place in the league table.