A three-time Ballon d'Or winner had some words of guidance for incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag regarding Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Red Devils have endured a season to forget, with Ralf Rangnick's men having already lost four more games in this league campaign than they did in the entirety of the 2020/21 season.
Ronaldo has, however, been a shining light in an otherwise sub-par season for United. The Portuguese striker has netted 22 goals across all competitions for the Red Devils in what has been an otherwise unhappy return to Old Trafford for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.
With manager-elect Ten Hag poised to take the reins in Manchester at the beginning of next season, it remains to be seen if Ronaldo will be part of the Dutchman's plans at the Theatre of Dreams, but Netherlands icon Marco van Basten has insisted there is a future at United for the former Real Madrid talisman.
"If Ronaldo carries on playing like he did last week [against Norwich City] and scores two or three goals in a match on a regular basis, there is no need to take him out of the team," the AC Milan legend told The Rondo Show.
"Ronaldo is a player who does his own thing, but as long as he delivers, you have to give him a place in the team. Ten Hag will take into account that he cannot ask the same things physically from Cristiano Ronaldo that he will be asking of an 18-year-old.
"Of course, Ronaldo will need to work hard – but I am sure he will work hard because I can see Ten Hag having an influence on him to get him to play how he wants."
The 1988 UEFA European Championship winner also suggested that his compatriot should block out the media circus that can come with being manager of United.
"I will give Erik one piece of advice: Don't listen to the media when you start there," Van Basten added.
