5 players Manchester United could've signed instead of Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo for the second time during the summer transfer window. The Portuguese was met with much fanfare after leaving Juventus to seal a sensational return to the Premier League.

Ronaldo has wasted no time in making his impact felt at Old Trafford. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner continues with his exploits in front of goal, having bagged nine goals for the Red Devils across all competitions this season.

Despite scoring consistently for the team, the attacker's arrival has failed to make Manchester United a better team. On a sincere note, the Red Devils have drifted backwards since signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

That has forced many into questioning whether his signing was the right move in the first place.

The warning signs were there from the beginning. It was obvious that Manchester United simply hijacked the attacker's transfer to Manchester City just to prove a point to their neighbors.

Cristiano Ronaldo's signing was totally unnecessary considering the attacking options present at Old Trafford and the fact that the Red Devils had many gaping holes to fill.

In fact, it would've made more sense to sign any of the five players highlighted below instead:

#5 Declan Rice

The West Ham midfielder is firing on all cylinders right now

It was quite glaring that Manchester United needed to sign a defensive midfielder during the summer transfer window. The Red Devils were linked with multiple options, including West Ham's Declan Rice.

However, their plans changed immediately after they entered the race for Cristiano Ronaldo's signature.

They've suffered from that poor decision this season and are now desperately in need of a reliable option to shield the defense. Declan Rice would've been a great option in that role.

The Englishman is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League right now. He can even play as a third centre-back if the situation calls for it.

#4 Kieran Trippier

Another option Manchester United could've signed instead of Cristiano Ronaldo

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently tried playing three men at the back but the system hasn't come out very well due to the lack of players who could execute it perfectly.

One such player is Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier, thanks to his ability to impress in attack, just as much as he does in defense.

The 31-year-old is looking to return to England and would've definitely hopped on the opportunity to join the Red Devils over the summer. Trippier is no stranger to the Premier League.

He has a record of 107 appearances to his name in the English top flight, representing the likes of Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur.

#3 Eduardo Camavinga

Manchester United ignored Eduardo Camavinga to sign Cristiano Ronaldo

Eduardo Camavinga is another player Manchester United could've signed instead of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Red Devils were linked with a swoop for the former Stade Rennais midfielder during the summer transfer window but ended up missing out on his signature.

The Frenchman eventually joined Real Madrid on a transfer worth €31 million on deadline day. He's off to a decent start to life in the Spanish capital, having made 11 appearances for Los Blancos so far, scoring once and assisting another.

Eduardo Camavinga would've been a great addition to Manchester United's squad. The 21-year-old impresses at controlling the tempo of the game, passes decently and doesn't shy away from making vital tackles.

He is a hard worker with or without the ball as well as an aggressive presser - something the Red Devils currently lack at the moment.

#2 Yves Bissouma

The Malian is enjoying a decent spell with Brighton

Another player who could improve Manchester United's midfield, Yves Bissouma, continues to impress with Brighton in the Premier League this season. The Malian has made seven appearances in the English top flight so far, putting up impressive performances in all and recording an assist to his name.

Instead of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, it could've made more sense for the Red Devils to sign the Brighton star. Especially considering Fred's recent struggles and the fact that Paul Pogba's contract will run out at the end of the term.

Bissouma remains one of the finest players in his position in the Premier League right now. Although he doesn't contribute much in attack due to his deep-lying role, the Malian is an extremely well-rounded player with a high level of technique. He is also a hard worker, covering a lot of ground and throwing himself against all sorts of opposition advances.

#1 Erling Haaland

Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland would be an option for the future

Even if Manchester United needed a focal point in attack, signing a 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo wasn't the right move. It would've been more meaningful to go all out and lure Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland to Old Trafford.

That would've been a transfer for the present and the future. At just 21 years old, Erling Haaland has already established himself among the finest goalscorers in world football and is only getting better with time.

The striker has scored 13 goals for Dortmund in nine appearances across all competitions so far this season. Last term, he finished as the Champions League's top scorer with 10 goals to his name and concluded the campaign with 41 goals in as many games.

Haaland has had a good connection with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since their time together at Molde. His agent, Mino Raiola, also has a decent relationship with Manchester United, which could've helped in negotiations.