Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United in 2021 was a mistake, revealing that his former assistant, Kieran McKenna, had warned him against the decision.
McKenna, now the manager of Ipswich Town, had analyzed six games of Ronaldo’s performances for Juventus and expressed concerns about how the forward would fit into United’s setup. According to Solskjaer, McKenna questioned how the team would defend effectively with Ronaldo in the squad, advising that the club should prioritize strengthening other areas instead.
Reflecting on the decision, Solskjaer told Norwegian outlet NRK, “It was probably a wrong choice for all of us. But we felt it was the right decision at the time.”
Ronaldo’s second stint at Old Trafford was a mixed one. He scored nine goals in his first 13 appearances under Solskjaer, but the relationship soured as the team struggled to find balance. Ronaldo eventually fell out with interim manager Ralf Rangnick and left for Saudi Arabia in the early stages of Erik ten Hag’s reign.
In the same interview, Solskjaer, 51, revealed that he now considers himself “all-but retired.” He is currently enjoying his time as a fan, watching football while working as a match analyst for UEFA and focusing on building his dream house in Kristiansund.
While he is open to returning to management, Solskjaer expressed that any potential future role would have to be a national team job, provided it isn’t too far from his home. He hinted that he had previously been approached for the Denmark position earlier this year but opted against it due to logistical reasons, including travel time and time differences.
Solskjaer also shared his belief that national teams should have someone from within the country as their coach, saying, “It sounds more correct.” It reflects the quality of the country’s football without needing too much outside help.”
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