Cristiano Ronaldo has been warned he would not get it all his own way if Antonio Conte became Manchester United boss.
Conte is the strong favourite to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if he were to be sacked. Solskjaer is under pressure following Sunday’s 5-0 demolition by Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Conte would reportedly be interested in the United job if it were to become available.
However, Solskjaer is set to get this Saturday’s match away at Tottenham at least in a bid to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Conte has been known for being an abrasive character during his managerial career.
And Italian football journalist Richard Hall reckons there could be an issue between him and Ronaldo at United.
Hall says Conte would take no prisoners and would not treat the Portuguese superstar differently to anyone else.
Conte would not be afraid to substitute Ronaldo if he was not following his instructions.
“The bond that Lautaro [Martinez] and Lukaku had just clicked from the off and that’s the one worry I’d have if Conte went to United,” Hall told the Manchester Evening News.
“The whole relationship with Ronaldo would be fascinating to watch.
“It’s a hard one because most players appreciate what Conte has done in the game but he’s all over players and pulls them up if they’re not working. He’s the boss and that won’t change even for a player like Ronaldo.
“If he doesn’t feel that Ronaldo is not having the ideal game or not following instructions, Conte would pull him off the pitch.
“Ronaldo has worked with a lot of different coaches and if he gave Conte the respect he gave Zidane for instance then I don’t think there would be a problem.
“But with those sorts of players, it would take Ronaldo to think ‘you’re the boss I’m going to do what you say’, and if he does that, great.”
Meanwhile, former Aston Villa captain Gabriel Agbonlahor has shed more light on the managerial style of Conte.
Agbonlahor spoke to former team-mate Ashley Young, who played under Conte for 18 months at Inter Milan, about the Italian’s methods.
He said on talkSPORT: “Ashley Young, I spoke to him about [Conte], he played with him at Inter. He said, ‘Gabi there’s non-stop running, every day in training, run run run’.
“If you can’t run, you’re not going to play in his teams. So I think he’s what that team needs.
“Someone going in there and saying ‘if you’re not doing as you’re told or you’re not doing what I want, you’re out’.
“’I don’t care if it’s Ronaldo, if it’s [Mason] Greenwood, if it’s Fernandes, if it’s [Paul] Pogba. If you’re not doing what I want and working hard, you’re coming to sit with me’.”