Cristiano Ronaldo’s advice to Elanga with Man Utd forward ‘open’ to transfer

16 January 2023 , 20:08

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Anthony Elanga is rumoured to be open to the idea of leaving Manchester United this month, just one month after his former team-mate and mentor Cristiano Ronaldo also departed.

Unlike Ronaldo, however, Elanga's exit would only be temporary as German giants Borussia Dortmund are reported to have explored the possibility of landing the Swede's signature as part of a loan deal before the January transfer window closes, as per talkSPORT.

The young winger has found game-time a tad harder to come by under boss Erik ten Hag than he did under the Dutchman's predecessor Ralf Rangnick, who took an instant liking to Elanga.

The Bundesliga titans aren't the only side keen on taking Elanga on loan, with fellow Premier League outfit Everton also keeping tabs on the situation, though their last United loanee did not exactly pull up any trees in Donny van de Beek.

Elanga's United career started in impressive fashion, something which he says himself was helped by Ronaldo's influence and advice.

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Speaking to United's official website in March of last year, Elanga explained: "It's really good [to have Ronaldo as a mentor] because I go to training quite early and see him there. If we have had a game the day before, we speak about the game or training.

"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. If we [young players] need any help we can speak to him — so he's a really good person to be around.

Cristiano Ronaldo was always on hand to give Anthony Elanga advice while at Manchester United

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"Everything starts on the training pitch. Looking at what the oldest players do and taking notes from them. Training with them day-in, day-out, helps me a lot."

It is unclear just how Ronaldo felt about Elanga, with the 37-year-old taking aim at the younger players in United's current crop during his tell-all interview with Piers Morgan in December.

Suggesting they lack the desire to succeed, the Portugal skipper claimed: "The hunger. They [young players] have things more easily. Everything is easy.

"They don’t suffer, they don’t care. I don’t mean just Man United, but all teams. They are not the same as my generation."

Elanga responded to the claim and was hardly scathing in his reply, instead adding that he "understands" where Ronaldo was coming from.

"Cristiano talks about young players in general," the 20-year-old told Aftonbladet. "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.

"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."