Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic believes Cristiano Ronaldo made things "easy" for manager Erik ten Hag before his departure from the club.
Ronaldo's controversial exit from Old Trafford by mutual consent in November last year remains one of the most noteworthy moments in Ten Hag's first season in Manchester.
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The Dutch boss was on the receiving end of some scathing criticism from the Portuguese superstar, who publicly revealed that he does not respect Ten Hag during a bombshell interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan.
The pair eventually both seemingly got what they wanted as Ronaldo parted ways with the club by mutual consent little more than a week later.
Ten Hag later insisted he did not lose any sleep over the situation and stood by his decision to let the striker leave.
Former Red Devils captain Vidic has now commented on the saga, stating that the 38-year-old's criticism ultimately benefited the man at the United helm.
"I think the Cristiano Ronaldo situation helped Ten Hag," the Serbian said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE podcast.
"What Cristiano Ronaldo said made it easy for him [Ten Hag] to do it [allow him to leave].
"I think in general he [Ten Hag] was patient with this situation and in the end he gets what he wants in terms of Man United playing more like a team than in the last four or five years."
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With Ronaldo having since been replaced by Wout Weghorst (albeit on loan), the Red Devils are understood to be looking for a more capable striker to spearhead their attack, with Harry Kane heavily linked, but Vidic is not convinced the Tottenham Hotspur man is the answer.
"If you ask me honestly, I would say that it is not just a striker [that United need]," the ex-Inter Milan centre-back added.
"I think that, definitely, the players who win you the title is the players who are playing in the middle. That is a striker, midfield player and two central defenders.
"Everything else you can do it but this is the heart of the team.
"I think striker is the toughest question you can ask me. I would not buy a striker if I am not sure about them.
"Thing with Kane is: how much money would you have to spend and how old is he? He is a top striker for the last 10 years, he will score the goals, but definitely there are other options."
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