13 April 2023 , 05:00
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Anthony Elanga always spoke effusively about Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United but the young forward has struggled since the icon's acrimonious exit.
Ronaldo's departure following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan has coincided with a dramatic depletion of game time for United's young Swedish forward. Elanaga has made just seven starts this season under Erik ten Hag and has fallen right down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old starred under Ralf Rangnick alongside Ronaldo and effectively pressed from the front - an asset the veteran goalscorer could not offer the German boss. And he also enjoyed regular minutes during the start of Ten Hag's reign, with many fans assuming he would carry more goalscoring responsibility when Ronaldo left for Al-Nassr.
But Elanga's constant omission from Ten Hag's sides could be attributed to the fact his main asset leading the pressing line was no longer required without Ronaldo in a fresh and re-energised attack. And the versatile attacker, who reportedly had a loan move to Everton blocked in January, had always spoken highly of how Ronaldo was helping develop his game.
"It's really good [to have him as a mentor] because I go to training quite early and see him there," he said in March last year. "If we have had a game the day before, we speak about the game or training.
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"He's a really good person to have around the building, not just because of what he does on the pitch, but what he does off the pitch as well."
Ronaldo became Elanga's mentor at Old Trafford (AFP via Getty Images)And the clearest indication that Ronaldo shared a close bond with Elanga came when the youngster defended his controversial comments in the bombshell interview with TalkTV host Morgan.
Ronaldo had taken aim at United's young players, saying they lack the desire to succeed. "They don’t suffer, they don’t care," he claimed. But Elanga chose to take his former teammate's comments on board rather than refute his stinging criticism of unnamed youngsters.
"Cristiano talks about young players in general. We are a new generation. I am always 100 per cent focused on what I am doing, but I can understand what he is saying", he told Aftonbladet.
Elanga will struggle to re-establish himself in United's first team (Manchester United via Getty Images)"There are a lot of phones and a lot of technology. It's quite easy for young players to get distracted and lose focus. I always focus 100 per cent on my job and what I do. Young players at United are listening, but I can understand what he is saying."
Perhaps Elanga is now missing the presence of a player who not only acted as his mentor but also improved his chances of a making it into Ten Hag's starting team.
The signing of Brazilian winger Antony and emergence of the mercurial Alejandro Garnacho has also left game time at a premium with competition for places extremely high.
And with fellow young winger Amad now expressing his desire to become a United regular after his superb loan spell at Sunderland, Elanga's task to establish himself at Old Trafford is about to become even more daunting.