Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga to join Nottingham Forest in £15m deal after forward agrees with Cristiano Ronaldo’s assessment of United’s youth
Nottingham Forest are close to signing a £15m deal for Manchester United striker Anthony Elanga.
The 21-year-old Sweden international was a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the two Old Trafford teammates before the latter ended his relationship with United by mutual consent in November last year.
Elanga has been a marginal figure under Erik ten Hag, starting just one game this calendar year – the EFL Cup win at home to Charlton in January. After making his debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick, his United career had faded.
The striker is currently in the States with United for the season but it is clear he will be returning home for a medical. Elanga failed to score for the Red Devils last season but has attracted interest from several clubs, but it is Forest who appear set to secure the signing.
Elanga’s admiration for Ronaldo and his work rate was evident, adding: “He means a lot to me. He has helped me a lot not only on the pitch but also off it. He is an inspiration, not just to me but to all young players at United. Sometimes it’s just me and him in the gym.
Elanga continued on whether his opinion of the Portuguese star had changed after leaving Old Trafford: “No, not that much.” Because when I’m with him, he hasn’t changed. For me it is still Cristiano Ronaldo. He helped me a lot.”
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Elanga agreed with the 38-year-old Ronaldo when the Portuguese superstar criticized the attitude of young players at Old Trafford ahead of his departure. Ronaldo’s sensational interview with Piers Morgan eventually led to his departure from Manchester, but his former teammate shared it.
Ronaldo said: “Hunger. They [young players] have it easier. Everything is easy. They don’t suffer, they don’t care. I’m not just talking about Man United, I mean all the teams. You are not the same as my generation.
“But you can’t blame them. It’s part of the new generation’s life, new technologies distracting them from other things. They’re not the same.” They listen, but they hear one way [and come out the other]. I’m not surprised, but it’s a shame
“If they have the best examples in front of them and at least they don’t copy what you’ve done, that’s kind of weird.”
While these comments have sparked some controversy, Ronaldo’s former teammate Elanga, 20, admitted he understood the criticism. The Swedish international said: “Cristiano talks about young players in general.
“We are a new generation. I am always 100% 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.
Young players are easily distracted and lose focus. I always focus 100 percent on my job and what I’m doing. Young players at United are listening but I can understand what he’s saying.”
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