Ricardo signed for Manchester United in 2002, eventually leaving in 2005 but barely getting a look of the pitch in all that time. He was a back up goalkeeper, but often considered third option and was sent out on loan to Racing Santander for part of that three years.
With Manchester United playing Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final tonight, in Bilbao, the Spanish media are trying to get their hands on anyone associated with either club so they can have a chat and publish some content related to the match.
Ricardo has been happy to help Spanish newspaper [AS](https://as.com/futbol/uefa/ricardo-para-el-united-ficharia-a-lamine-yamal-n/?id_externo_rsoc=CM_ES_TW), and he spoke a little bit about the game, explaining he believes it will be an equal contest and it’s too close to call on who will win.
The he was asked about Antony’s successful loan spell at Real Betis, with AS seemingly wanting him to reflect on that a failure from Manchester United. Instead, Ricardo explained he’s not buying the hype: _“Yes, but he’s not quite a world-class player, which is what Manchester United needs. He’s capable of making good plays or scoring goals, but after watching him this year, I’m not convinced he’s an elite player. Manchester United need players with a bigger quality, a little more.”_
AS then pressed on the kind of player Manchester United need, and that’s when Ricardo brought up the Barcelona star: _“It’s a difficult thing, but I would sign Lamine Yamal \[laughs\]. Players like that. But of course, he’s had a significant breakthrough there at Barcelona and these are players that are hard to get, that’s clear. It’s stratospheric (for Lamine Yamal). Last year, playing for the Spanish national team, look at everything he contributed, it was enough to win the European Championship. But not just because of the goals he scores, but because of how he manages the game, what the team needs at every moment. To do that at his age is hard to believe. You have to see it to believe it.”_
Yep, that one isn’t happening.