Do these TV football pundits know what they are talking about?

This season, many of them said Ronaldo was a liability for Manchester United, that at 37 he was ‘past it’, that he was incapable of playing a pressing game.

Earlier this week, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Ronaldo was not a good signing and that new manager Erik ten Hag should show him the door.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, and I’m seen as criticising him – Ronaldo is a million times better than I could ever be, I couldn’t lace his boots, obviously, but I’m not saying that to be disrespectful to him, he’s amazing,” began Carragher.

“But Ronaldo has never played in a team this bad, he’s played in some of the best teams and has the attitude of wanting to be the main man, trying to get the goals, driving people on, and when you’re in a great team, that’s something I’m seeing as a positive,” he continued.

“When you’re not playing in a great team it can be something that is seen as a negative, and I think it has been a negative this season. Manchester United can’t go into next season with a centre forward who is going to be 38, even if he does score goals that’s not right for Man United,” the Briton said.

“United need to buy a striker, but who do you buy? Do you buy one who’s going to play, or one who’s going to sit on the bench? What do you do? If you buy a really good one then he has to play, and Ronaldo has to go on the bench,” Carragher argued further.

“Ronaldo would be a massive problem for Manchester United next season if he wasn’t playing every week, we’ve seen it this season, even when he’s coming off and there were times where the manager was right to take him off or put him on the bench, but he’s kicked up a fuss,” he contended. “This is the most powerful he will ever be, the manager’s the most powerful the first day in the job, because he’s there and he should be able to make big decisions on the basis of that and I’d make that big decision as the other top managers have done that make everyone sit up and take notice.”

But every time I watch Manchester United on TV, it’s Ronaldo banging in the goals. He has scored 24 goals this season, 18 in the EPL making him the third most prolific striker this season – and he is 37!

These pundits keep saying he doesn’t track back, he’s lost a yard in pace but he keeps doing the business, finding the back of the net.

He is already a significant return on investment.

Watch how he singlehandedly spared Manchester United’s blushes against Norwich, Tottenham, Atalanta, Arsenal, West Ham, and Villarreal.

He has done more for that team than Edinson Cavani, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.

None of these big names in the team has come close to his contribution to the team. In fact, he has carried them.

Manchester United are in the doldrums now and were lucky to finish sixth. Only Burnley has conceded more goals. Without Ronaldo’s contribution, they would be mid-table, not even making it to Europa Conference League.

He has been an outstanding example for the team to follow and should be made captain. Ronaldo is a proven winner having lifted titles in England, Spain and Italy.

He has preserved himself, forgoing pie and chips and ten pints a night.

It is ridiculous to point to his age as a limitation to his abilities and what he can do on a football pitch because he has disproved that. The stats don’t lie.

He has performed better than men ten years younger than him and looked good doing so. The rest of the team needs to follow his never-say-die attitude.

If you want to win, follow Ronaldo.

Some of these pundits talk about Ronaldo being a bad influence. How can that be when you have him on the park given his ability and experience?

Barmy!

Because of his proven ability, he wants to play every game and should play every game. Why? Because his genius can turn a game.

Even former teammates who are now commentators are not fulsome in their praise when before their very eyes Ronaldo continues to turn back the clock.

This is what former Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney had to say when asked whether Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has been a success: “You’d have to say no, at the minute.”

“I think he’s scored goals, he’s scored important goals in the Champions League early on in the season, he scored the hat-trick against Tottenham… But I think if you’re looking to the future of the club, you have to go with younger, hungry players to do the best to lift Manchester United over these next two or three years.”

“Obviously, Cristiano is getting on a bit. He certainly isn’t the player he was when he was in his 20s, and that happens, that’s football. He’s a goal threat but in the rest of the game they need more, they need young, hungry players.”

These guys have to be blind or jealous. Perhaps both.

At 37, he is still up there with Mo Salah, Son and Harry Kane. He has been a top striker for two generations now. Incredible!

“When I go on the pitch, I do what I love which is play football and do my best for the team. That is my aim.

“If they worry about me or they speak about me it’s because they know my potential and value in football still,” Ronaldo said.

He will go on to have a good World Cup this year and will continue to show why he is still the best footballer this world has ever seen – despite the haters.