Piers Morgan has urged the Arsenal hierarchy to make a sensational transfer swoop for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, telling talkSPORT he has personally asked the superstar to make the move.
The outspoken TV host and diehard Gunners fan says Ronaldo is not given the right respect in Manchester United’s ‘arrogant’ dressing room, and he’d be better off helping Arsenal return to their rightful place in the Premier League title race.
Morgan wants friend Ronaldo to join his beloved Arsenal
Manchester United are going through a huge period of transition and look set to make plenty of changes this summer after appointing Erik ten Hag as their new permanent manager.
The Dutch boss is facing a big rebuilding job at Old Trafford, similar to the one faced by Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium.
Despite faltering form in recent weeks, having lost three straight games against Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton, big back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Man United sees the Gunners still firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish as they compete with rivals Tottenham for a spot in the Champions League.
While passionate Gooner Morgan was full of praise of Arteta’s talented young stars, he believes a stunning move for global superstar Ronaldo would be the perfect addition to help the team return to the top.
And he has even asked the Portuguese superstar directly to join his beloved club.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Morgan said: “When it comes down to money and owners and riches and banking, we’ve got the richest of all of them.
Piers Morgan is a big fan of Ronaldo and wants him at the Emirates Stadium
“Stan Kroenke has got £10billion, he’s married to a woman who has got even more in the Walmart heiress who has £15billion. He’s just bought a ranch for £750million, he can afford to buy a couple of strikers!
“Do you know what I’d do if I was Arsenal manager? I’d go in, get Cristiano Ronaldo and put him up front.
“I’ve had this conversation with him last week. I said ‘come to Arsenal’.
“The Arsenal and Manchester United thing is very interesting. On paper, United have far more talented players and far more experienced, talented players but they don’t have the right attitude.
“The mental attitude is shocking. Whatever is going on in that club…if they didn’t have Ronaldo in the team they wouldn’t be winning, whereas Arsenal have young, hungry, really promising guys who have a great attitude. People like [Bukayo] Saka, [Emile] Smith Rowe, [Kieran] Tierney and all of these guys.
“That’s what’s encouraging. If you combined the United talent with our mentality then both clubs would be sorted.
“I’m not even joking. I’d love to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Arsenal. If he’s not going to stay at United, I’d take him in a heartbeat.
“I watched that game at the weekend and he was the best player on the pitch.
“As a striker, when you watch Ronaldo’s movement and his goalscoring record at 37, I’d put Ronaldo at the front and let these kids learn from him.”
Morgan added: “There’s a brilliant story from Saturday. I walked into this box and there is Dennis Bergkamp, my all-time Arsenal hero.
“I was telling Dennis about how Thierry Henry always gets annoyed when I say that Dennis is my number one, when there’s a tap on my shoulder and it’s Thierry!
“I found myself doing a picture with the two of them, then I went down and saw that Arsenal released some footage of them talking to Smith Rowe and Saka and you could see the awe in those young guys’ faces.
“I don’t feel like there’s that respect from those young guys at United for Ronaldo.
“I think that the egos are writing cheques that the lack of trophies doesn’t cash, and my message to those young United stars is that you’re talented, but your egos are out of control and you should be begging Ronaldo for advice.