An Arsenal legend has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Manchester United at the end of this season.
Following Atletico Madrid's 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory which saw the Red Devils knocked out of the competition on Tuesday night, the 37-year-old has suffered his first trophyless campaign since the 2009/10 season.
Despite scoring a hat trick against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, the Portuguese forward failed to register a single shot on goal against the reigning LaLiga champions.
Scroll through the gallery above to see Manchester United in action against Atletico Madrid
Paul Merson has now given his verdict on the striker's future as he explains that he would be "shocked" if Ronaldo stayed at Old Trafford.
"You never know what Manchester United's team is going to turn up," Merson wrote on Sky Sports, per Daily Post Nigeria.
"I always thought the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't great. He gets a hat-trick on Saturday and everybody's going mad, but put the ball in the box and Ronaldo will score goals. It's simple.
"The header didn't shock me one iota. He's the best header of the ball in the world. He hangs in the air, but you've got to put the ball in the box.
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"He's not going to do two foot-overs, beat two players and then smash the ball in the top corner – those days are gone.
"But put the ball in the box and the man is the best finisher there's ever been. You can't score that many goals if you're not a good finisher.
"Do I think he'll still be there next season? No, absolutely not. I would be shocked if he was still there."
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