Picking out just two players from the past 30 years is a near impossible task, such is the wealth of options among many of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s former stars who are now genuine club legends.

This is what Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards attempted to do, when answering a question for the Rest Is Football podcast.

Top players Manchester United would re-sign

The trio were asked which two players from the Premier League era would manager Erik ten Hag choose to re-sign to improve his current side.

Gary Lineker quipped: “You could pick any two players from the last 30 years to take United to the next level, I think they need more than two players. But I see what he means.”

Alan Shearer had an instant response, commenting: “Rooney would be one of them.”

Lineker agreed, recommending his former strike partner too, commenting: “Rooney and Ronaldo.”

Micah Richards had a different viewpoint, arguing Manchester United’s current needs are more suited towards a lack of leadership in midfield, suggesting: “I reckon Keane.”

After some mickey-taking that Richards was simply trying to impress his Sky colleague Roy Keane, Richards elaborated further.

He said: “You know why, everyone’s talking about the standards and what not, McTominay was captain the other day and he was leading by example, and [it would be even better] if you had someone like Roy Keane, any of the legendary captains at United, Robson, Bryan Robson, who could set the standards higher.

“I’m going for one them, and Rooney or Ronaldo.”

Erik ten Hag had Ronaldo once

The elephant in the room ignored by the trio was that Erik ten Hag had Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of his Manchester United career.

The Ronaldo he inherited was a deeply unhappy one, going through personal strife, and his own severe frustrations at both the state of Manchester United, and his own waning powers.

Within months Ronaldo was gone, with Erik ten Hag unable to get the striker onside. He has gone onto rediscover his happiness playing in Saudi Arabia.

But given the choice? We’d expect Erik ten Hag would choose a very different option to bringing back Ronaldo if he had a wide pick. Even if it was a Ronaldo at the peak of his United powers from 2007 to 2009.

When the other options include the likes of Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Bryan Robson, or a Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick, or an Edwin van der Sar, it’s easy to make the case that Ten Hag may select a duo which does not include Ronaldo.