Erik ten Hag and Manchester United have come under fire from Liverpool legend Graeme Souness for preventing Cristiano Ronaldo from leaving Old Trafford over the summer and for their subsequent disrespect of the football legend.

Even when the 37-year-old attempted to leave the club through a second Old Trafford exit last summer, Manchester United and Ten Hag were reluctant to let him do so.

Souness feels that the 37-year-old has been disrespected by the former Real Madrid and Juventus superstar's single Premier League start this season.

The Portugal international was kept on the bench throughout the 90 minutes of Sunday’s Manchester derby, with Ten Hag opting for Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony and later introducing Anthony Martial.

Speaking after the embarrassing defeat to Manchester City, Ten Hag told reporters he did not use the superstar ‘out of respect.’

But Souness told talkSPORT, “Ronaldo has an argument for saying, ‘I’ve been the best player ever’ – he can sit with any group of players in the history of the game if they were still alive and argue that,” Souness said.

So, the disrespect Manchester United are showing him now, I don’t see the point in going through the aggravation which they have caused in making him stay to not use him.

It’s disrespectful not to use him. I don’t buy that [Ten Hag’s explanation]. I think you’re showing more disrespect by not using him. "

Cristiano Ronaldo scored over 22 goals for the multiple Premier League champions last season, helping them qualify for the Europa League.