talkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair has urged Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo to keep his head down, insisting the 36-year-old should ‘keep his mouth shut’.

The Portugal international, who returned to Old Trafford in the summer following spells at Real Madrid and Juventus, wants the United hierarchy to get the next permanent manager appointment right.

Ralph Rangnick was drafted in to lead the team until the end of the season, before the German takes up a ‘consultancy role’. United currently sit seventh in the league, 22 points off leaders Manchester City.

Should United fail to appoint a new permanent manager to the liking of Ronaldo, then he could depart Old Trafford in the summer.

Sinclair insists his former club Manchester City ‘dodged a bullet’ after the Sky Blues were previously linked with a swoop for Ronaldo, before his return to Old Trafford.

‘I’m starting to think that Manchester City dodged a bullet by not signing Cristiano, I really think that,’ he told talkSPORT.

‘You look at some of the players that are struggling for form at Manchester United, young players, Sancho, Rashford, they’re really struggling for good performances.

‘Course you can [blame Ronaldo for that]. Know your role, know your role. You’re a footballer, you’re hired by the football club.

‘Keep your mouth shut because at times that’s the best thing to do. He’s causing a lot of problems at the football club.

‘Not just his lack of goals in recent times, but the fact that Ole’s gone and Michael went in and dropped him for a game’.

The pundit has also questioned whether Ronaldo is committed to the United cause, with the Red Devils way off the mark when it comes to Champions League qualification.

‘I just feel it’s been one of those signings where it looked good, but it’s far from good,’ Sinclair added.

‘For me, one of the reasons I think he may not have considered Manchester City, and it’s certainly not winning trophies because he would have won a lot of silverware there.

‘I think it’s because he didn’t want to be second fiddle to Pep. Whereas he could go into Manchester United, he could almost feel like he could bully Ole.

‘And I think he just want to do what he wants for him and it’s not the best for the club.’

Ronaldo has a contract to remain at Old Trafford until the summer of 2023, and it remains uncertain as to whether the United talisman will fulfil his current deal.