'Ronaldo Is Michael Jordan But Without A World Class Manager'

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is Michael Jordan without a world class manager, according to a former Arsenal star.

Read: What Fergie Told CR7 To Stop Man City Move

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer compared the Portuguese forward to the NBA legend after netting a brace in their UEFA Champions League draw against Atalanta on Tuesday.

Former Gunners striker Paul Merson agreed with the comparision, but described Ronaldo as Jordan without a 'word class' coach as the Chicago Bulls star had 11-time NBA champions Phil Jackson at the helm.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is like Michael Jordan - but without the world-class manager," Merson wrote in his Daily Star coloumn.

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to make the comparison because Ronaldo gets his team out of trouble almost as often as the greatest of all time did for the Chicago Bulls.

"The problem is that in Phil Jackson, Jordan had one of the best basketball coaches in the world managing his team when they were winning the NBA over and over again.

"Ronaldo has Solskjaer. How many trophies has Solskjaer won as a manager?

"The worrying thing is that Ronaldo is 36, and he's Manchester United's best player. That can't be right at the biggest club in the world.

"I'm wondering where that club is going because even Tottenham have a better manager now in Antonio Conte. It's scary.

"United could easily be out of the Champions League already. And they will get beaten by Manchester City this weekend. They're just drifting along. And that's something Michael Jordan would never have allowed."

Here are United's 10 highest-paid players: