Ronaldo’s Manchester United return has only benefitted one youngster

Anton Ferdinand believes Anthony Elanga is the only young player who has benefitted from Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United return.

The former West Ham defender compared Elanga to a young Ronaldo, claiming that the 20-year-old is the sole squad figure to have benefitted from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s expertise this season. The Sweden international has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

After being brought into the first-team squad, Elanga was handed regular outings by Ralf Rangnick. The youngster seized his opportunity and became one of the first names on Rangnick ’s team sheet by the end of the season.

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In March, he was called up to Sweden’s senior squad for the first time, making his debut against the Czech Republic. It typified a meteoric rise for the attacker, who ended the season with three goals and two assists in an abject United side.

Ferdinand suggested that a reason for his progression was the fact he has heeded Ronaldo’s advice and learned from the 37-year-old superstar. “I had the pleasure of meeting Elanga at the last home game (against Brentford),” he told talkSPORT.

“I took my little boy up there to meet Ronaldo and I saw Elanga and I watched him live for the first time. He looks like one of the only young players who has actually tapped into Ronaldo.”

He added: “His movement was Ronaldo-esque, when Ronaldo was younger. You know his (Ronaldo’s) movement to get the ball?

“Sometimes he wouldn’t get it, but he wouldn’t moan about it, but his movement might free somebody else up. This is stuff that Ronaldo did when he first came to the football club.

“Now he’s switched his position. But he looks like the only young player in the first team that’s tapped into the G.O.A.T.”

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