We need players who can run! – Kompany jokes Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn´t be a good fit for Burnley

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany joked he would not sign Cristiano Ronaldo as Burnley “need players who can run”.

Ronaldo is preparing for the World Cup with Portugal ahead of Thursday’s Group H opener against Ghana, though the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will lreturn to club football as a free agent in January.

Manchester United and Ronaldo parted ways by mutual agreement on Tuesday after the forward’s exclusive interview with Piers Morgan caused a global stir.

The Portugal captain said he felt “betrayed” by United and had no respect for manager Erik ten Hag before the fractured relationship at Old Trafford came to an abrupt end.

Kompany, now manager of Championship side Burnley, offered a tongue-in-cheek assessment of the situation, suggesting the Clarets would not be interested in signing the 37-year-old.

Asked on the BBC’s World Cup coverage whether he would want Ronaldo at Turf Moor, Kompany joked: “We need players who can run.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.

The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford. #MUFC

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 22, 2022

After discussing Ronaldo’s future in a jovial manner, Kompany claimed “everybody loses” after an uncomfortable situation at Old Trafford, barring Ten Hag.

“I think in the end everybody loses except perhaps the Man United manager,” added Kompany, who lifted four Premier League titles with fierce rivals City.

“I think it is a problem that has been resolved and they will move on from this.”

Fellow pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer believes it will be interesting to see what move Ronaldo takes next, with Chelsea reportedly among the favourites.

“It is a sad end to his Man United career,” Shearer said. “He’s got his wish, it is what he did the interview for. It was inevitable it was going to happen after that.

“I think it is going to be really interesting to see if a Champions League club comes in for him. Maybe Man United aren’t that disappointed either, that was never going to be a match, Ten Hag and him.”