Cristiano Ronaldo did not show up for Manchester United’s first training sessions and has not traveled to Thailand to start the preseason. He wants to leave the club, although he has not said so publicly. Cristiano has one year left on his contract with United, where he earns 450,000 pounds a week, a salary that will be reduced by 25% this season because United will not play in the Champions League.
It does not seem that money is the cause of their estrangement. The annoyance for the absence in the Champions League weighs more. It is his competition, the one that has sealed his career. Five Ballon d’Ors attest to this. Until recently, Cristiano did not choose a destination. He chose it. Two, three, maybe four clubs figured in the design of his career. They had to be big, rich and competent. For 16 years he played in two of them: Manchester United and Real Madrid, delighted to receive him and happy with his wild production of goals.
Cristiano signed for Juve in 2018. For the first time his influence began to be discussed. The numbers supported him – no player has reached 100 goals faster in the Italian League – but the team’s performance began to decline. Age entered as a matter of discussion.
At United, where he was greeted like Ulysses upon his return from Ithaca, the debate sharpened. 18 goals in 30 league games, six in the European Cup and the team’s top scorer. United, however, scored 16 fewer goals than in the previous season and did not enter the Champions League.
At 37, Cristiano is still perceived as productive, but inconvenient for the current model: relentless pressure, general discipline. A long time ago Cristiano and Messi got off that train. At this point they are more aware of their particular agenda than of general obligations.
Hiring Cristiano was a blessing. Sign him now is not. Where does the Portuguese star want to go? Who loves him? None of the great contenders to win the next European Cup. However, Cristiano and Messi do have two teams where they are not discussed. One is Portugal; the other, Argentina. Two teams where you work for them without question.
Cristiano has never won the World Cup. Messi, neither. They still have the bullet from Qatar, four weeks that will rise like this season’s Everest. Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision is probably less related to his everyday appetites than to his voracious desire to win the World Cup. From that perspective, what interests him is to find a club that meets the best environmental conditions so as not to distract him from his long-awaited dream that he pursues.
You can follow EL PAÍS Sports in Facebook Y Twitteror sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.
50% off
Exclusive content for subscribers
read without limits
#Cristiano #Ronaldos #tribulations #pass #Qatar