EPL: I don’t know if he’ll become a problem – Jaap Stam worries about Ronaldo’s bench role

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has said that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be satisfied with his reduced role at the club.

Stam, however, backed the 37-year-old five-time Ballon d’Or winner to contribute this season.

There are reports that Manchester United stars want the football icon to remain on the bench, preferring Marcus Rashford to continue leading the attack.

The Sun reports that the players feel ‘pressured’ by Ronaldo’s presence on the pitch.

The Portugal international has only started two matches for Erik ten Hag team this season and is yet to open his account for the 2022-23 campaign.

He was absent for a large part of the club’s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia and therefore not deemed match fit for United’s opening-day defeat to Brighton.

Since then, the former Real Madrid and Juventus goal machine has had to make do with a bit-part role since regaining his fitness.

The 37-year-old wants to return to his place as the club’s talisman, but The Sun reports that his team-mates believe he should remain on the bench.

“Cristiano is a fantastic player and I don’t know if he will become a problem,” Stam told Metro.

“He’s still a quality player, a great goalscorer.”