Former player and manager Graeme Souness shared that when Virgil van Dijk lifted the biggest prize in English football, the Premier League title this season, it showed that Manchester United had eliminated the wrong person.

Graeme Souness believes Manchester United will pay the price for not heeding Cristiano Ronaldo’s warning. Liverpool are certain to equal United’s record of 20 Premier League titles. Former Scotland midfielder Souness, now 71, felt he had something in common with Ronaldo when he spoke publicly about the shortcomings he had identified at Old Trafford. It was at this time that Ronaldo returned to United for a second spell, after completing his journey to becoming one of the world’s greatest players with Real Madrid and Juventus.

Ronaldo was released early by United on his second return to Old Trafford. And Souness feels the sight of Virgil van Dijk lifting Liverpool’s 20th Premier League title in the coming weeks shows United got rid of the wrong man.

“When Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford, he was the perfect role model for the players in the United squad,” Souness said. United paid the price for not listening to Ronaldo’s warnings. “He was a consummate professional, someone who always demanded the highest standards from himself and those around him.

Ronaldo was disappointed with what he saw when he returned to United. He questioned whether people cared enough about their jobs. In the past decade, since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have lacked high-class professionals capable of pulling the team along.

They had the best player in the business in Ronaldo. I think Ronaldo left because, when the promises made to him about players coming to Old Trafford were not fulfilled. I’m talking about one of the greatest players to ever play football. It’s stupid that the decision makers at Old Trafford didn’t listen to Ronaldo.

I think Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego made him think that someone at the top of the club would listen to him. But no one did – and more than two years later, United have still not progressed further.”

Graeme Souness won the Premier League five times during his six years at Liverpool. He also lifted the European Cup three times and left to taste Coppa Italia success with Sampdoria, before leading Rangers to two Scottish Championship titles. Souness knows that to pull on the red of Liverpool or United, a player needs character and courage as well as technical quality.

Graeme Souness said: “I played in a different era, but there are certain principles in football that never change. I became a better player at Liverpool because I walked into a dressing room full of winners like Emlyn Hughes, Phil Neal, Thommo (Phil Thompson). Ray Clemence never stopped whining and he was a goalkeeper!

When I came to Liverpool I was a starter who could play games. I would prepare for a few games thinking “this should be an easy afternoon”. That attitude was quickly taken away from me. I quickly realised that you can’t do that at clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United. Every game is a big game.

I realised that every time you go out on the pitch you have to expect the opposition to treat it as their cup final. I recognise a few similar characters in the current Liverpool team. Van Dijk is an example. He never looks happy. Robbo (Andy Robertson) looks like he’s moaning all the time. I absolutely love that.

Who can do that at Manchester United? I don’t recognise anyone. When you play for Liverpool or Manchester United, you have to have attitude as well as ability. That’s the price you pay for wearing that shirt.”