That’s all folks. It’s over. For the second time in his career, Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Manchester United. Unlike the first time, though, this won’t be for a record-breaking transfer fee. Nor does it come with the good will of the club, the fans and the teammates.
Instead, this time, one of the greatest players of all time quietly walks out the back door in the middle of the season. Everyone involved is eager to move forward as quickly as possible.
How This Happened is a depressing story of ego, agents, and a desperate TV host. As ugly as the ending is, the uncomfortable truth is that his departure is actually good news for all parties.
It is not the Ronaldo of before
The Ronaldo who arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2001 was not the same creature who left all those years ago. Yes, he has more goals, more records and more followers on Instagram. Still, there’s no denying that this is well after Ronaldo’s peak. The desire was still there, the self-confidence still evident. But, the breakneck pace, incisive run and game-changing quality succumbed to the hands of time.
Of course, there were times when it flashed briefly. Ronaldo single-handedly turned back the years and brought Manchester United out of the depths. A treble against Tottenham Hotspur and numerous last-gasp Champions League winners are just a few examples. The club didn’t deserve results, but Ronaldo got them.
That’s what great players do, it stays in their DNA even during their decline. The theme was that the decline was irreversible and increasingly noticeable. Juventus also saw it.
There was a feeling of a partner that never felt like the right one. Like a middle-aged man trying to recapture his youth by stuffing the leather jacket of his adolescence. The two were no longer compatible.
Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United benefits the player and the club
United were a team in transition and very keen to try to move to something a little more modern. Initially, Ronaldo played with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. The former United striker was a non-threatening manager. Surely, he was not strong enough to face a player of Ronaldo’s power.
When he left, and new manager Erik ten Hag eventually arrived, his high-pressure, physically demanding style of play was much better suited to a younger, more energetic model. The writing was on the wall.
Things could have been smoother if there had been a solid structure at United. Or at least something resembling a plan. One of the comments that rang true in Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan was his claim that United are a club in stasis. There has been no change, no urgency to develop and no one in charge with a good idea. The irony, of course, is that if they had been, there is no way anyone sensible would have agreed to bring back an aging Ronaldo who no longer suits this style and is past his prime.
As sad as it is, that’s the truth of the matter. Ronaldo no longer fits with United and United no longer fits with Ronaldo. He wants, he needs, to be the main man in any club. Playing a supporting role and spending more time on the sidelines doesn’t do his GOAT image any good. And having an angry superstar making half a million a week without playing doesn’t do United much good either.
However, the decision was made. Ronaldo, Man United and the fans must accept that this departure, this titanic divorce, is the best for everyone.
Where Ronaldo ends up next is a decision for another day, but. Judging by the unwillingness of the big clubs to sign him, his desire to play in the Champions League again may end once and for all.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Panoramic
