Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Maguire shared details about the excitement, the reality check, and the disappointment that followed.

From Title Hope to Season of Frustration

According to Maguire, the atmosphere changed instantly when Ronaldo walked back into the dressing room.

“I can’t speak a bad word about him,” Maguire said. “It was amazing to have him. Even when he just walked in through the door, it was incredible.”

But omo, here’s where it gets painful — despite Ronaldo scoring 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions that season, United finished sixth in the Premier League. The team’s form dipped, the chemistry never clicked, and frustration set in.

Why Things Didn’t Work Out

Maguire explained that under then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, United’s style was all about pressing hard, staying aggressive, and keeping a solid shape. That system had worked well enough to secure second and third place finishes in the two seasons before Ronaldo’s return.

However, integrating Ronaldo into that high-press system didn’t go as planned. Maguire admitted the team “didn’t adapt well enough” to maximize Ronaldo’s strengths, and it showed in their results.

“It had nothing to do with Cristiano because, like I said, he was our best player that year by far. The tactics around him just didn’t work,” he noted.

The End of an Era

The 2021/22 season saw the Red Devils lose Ole Gunnar Solskjær, a manager Maguire still praises highly. He said the way Ole set up the team during those two years was the best he ever felt playing for United.

Still, with Ronaldo and Varane joining after a second-place finish, Maguire thought the team was ready to push for the title. Sadly, “it just never happened.”

Cristiano Ronaldo ultimately left Manchester United in December 2022 after a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, closing the chapter on what was meant to be a fairytale return — but turned into a season full of what-ifs.