Graeme Souness reckons Manchester United have got it wrong by ousting Cristiano Ronaldo as he offers a clear warning to Erik ten Hag over his treatment of the sensational five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Ronaldo, 37, will not feature for United against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm) after the Portugal striker refused to come off the bench during a statement win over Tottenham on Wednesday night. It was a high-profile moment which drew attention from the result, but should Ronaldo be given special dispensation?
Writing in his latest Daily Mail column, Souness said: "It's a desperately sad situation that Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself in. Here is a player who has taken Manchester United to the heights and scored goals for them which will live long in the memory - yet look what that club have reduced him to.
"What we saw at Old Trafford on Wednesday night was a player plainly angry, upset and deeply frustrated stuck there on the bench while players he will rightly consider himself superior to were out on the field. For a player as hugely competitive as him, that will have been agony.
"An experience he will never have imagined himself facing. I have to say that I can understand how he feels."
Souness added: "This is a situation entirely United's making and a problem they didn't need to create. Erik ten Hag has made some bold and courageous decisions, while trying to instil discipline and unity, but how did he think this situation with Ronaldo was going to work?
"United have shot themselves in the foot and not helped themselves one bit. Every player must be ready to play, however great or small the role, but I do think there has to be particular consideration for Ronaldo, given his vast position in the game and his contribution to it.
"If the current situation persists, his behaviour could continue to be off."