Leeds United have four players at the World Cup this summer. Unfortunately, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not one of them.
The Englishman defied all expectations that were placed upon him at the start of last season. Calvert-Lewin arrived on a free transfer and ended up netting 14 Premier League goals.
If Leeds continue to stabilise themselves as a top-flight outfit with Calvert-Lewin up top, it could end up becoming one of the more pivotal signings in our recent history. However, his form last season was not enough to earn him a call-up to the World Cup squad, with Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney selected ahead of him.
But this snub did not stop a talkSPORT pundit from making a sensational claim regarding the United striker live on air.
TalkSPORT’s Rory Jennings makes bold claim about Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cristiano Ronaldo
Unlike Calvert-Lewin, a striker who is at this World Cup is Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 41-year-old is currently featuring in his sixth World Cup for Portugal. But despite his legendary status in the game, he has been the subject of fierce criticism.
To put it politely, Ronaldo was terrible in Portugal’s opening group game against DR Congo, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Ronaldo offered absolutely nothing up top. No outlet, no runs in the channel, nothing. All the non-negotiables for a forward, especially when they aren’t scoring.
This led to talkSPORT pundit Rory Jennings making a sensational claim about Ronaldo live on air. He compared him to our talisman Calvert-Lewin.
I think they can win this World Cup, Portugal. I think they’re good enough. But it won’t be because of the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo; he will hinder them.
“He’s a spent force; he was a spent force at the Qatar World Cup.”
Jennings then went on to debate whether Ronaldo would get in England’s current World Cup squad with his co-host, Jamie O’Hara.
Whilst O’Hara claimed that he’d have Ronaldo in the squad as backup to Harry Kane, Jennings passionately disagreed.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is 100% not better than Ollie Watkins. If Cristiano Ronaldo was English, I’d have Danny Welbeck ahead of him. Calvert-Lewin is a better footballer today than Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Leeds United supporters will be revelling in Cristiano Ronaldo’s downfall
Because of his ties to Manchester United, Ronaldo is understandably not the most popular figure in West Yorkshire.
In a sense, he contradicts everything Leeds United is about. Billy Bremner’s infamous quote, “Side before self, every time,” is there for all to see at Elland Road, and too many times, Ronaldo has put his own interests ahead of the team.
I know I’m not the only Leeds fan who finds Ronaldo’s deterioration to be hilarious at this World Cup. If he were serious about winning the competition, he’d tell Roberto Martinez to use him as an impact substitute.
Whilst he may still score in this World Cup, Ronaldo’s all-around general performances leave a lot to be desired, and that is why the substitute role would suit him better, but we all know his ego could not handle that.
As for our striker Calvert-Lewin, we have someone who is not afraid to do the dirty work up top when it doesn’t all go his way, chasing lost causes, holding the ball up and bringing others into play, even when he is extremely isolated.
I completley agree with Jennings that at this moment in time, Calvert-Lewin is better than Ronaldo.
Hopefully for us next season, his trademark work ethic when leading the line will be rewarded with more goals that help fire us to Premier League safety once again.
