Cristiano Ronaldo and the Ridiculous Numbers!
Cristiano Ronaldo in Numbers:
- Five Champions League titles,
- Four FIFA Club World Cups,
- Three Premier League titles and three UEFA Super Cups,
- Two La Liga titles, two Copa del Ray Cups, two English League Cups, two Spanish Super Cups, two English Community Shields, two Serie A titles, two Italian Super Cups,
- One FA Cup, one Portuguese Super Cup, One European Championship, one UEFA Nations League Cup,
- Three times UEFA best player in Europe awards,
- Twice FIFA best player of the season,
- Five times winner of the Ballon d’Or
- Three times La Liga top goal scorer,
- Seven times Champions League top scorer,
- Once Premier League top scorer, once Serie A top goal scorer,
- Twice FIFA World Cup golden boot winner,
- Twice European Cup golden boot winner,
- 672 goals and 229 assists in 894 professional appearances and 59 trophies in his trophy cabinet.
A Fairytale Homecoming for CR7 and United Fans
These are just some of the ridiculous statistics that Cristiano Ronaldo has amassed in his career. There is literally a museum that houses all of his accolades. Now that Manchester United have re-signed the soon to be 37-year-old, can he replicate that success for United?
I am not convinced!
There is no doubt that, like Zlatan, Ronaldo is a physical specimen. He trains harder than almost anyone, and he treats his body lika a temple. Last season alone he managed to pump in 33 goals for Juventus. His signing, even at his age, will almost certainly make United instant title contenders.
Cristiano Ronaldo Brings So Much More than Goals
Ronaldo’s experience and winning mentality will be invaluable to the development of our host of young attacking talent. It will also add to the leadership and experience in the dressing room. On days like our recent dull draw against Southampton, his ability and leadership could have been the difference between a win and a draw. He will also invigorate the fans at Old Trafford which could help in improving our embarrassing home record.
Moreover, it is a signing that shows serious intent for trophies. There is no doubt that any team we line up against will fear us a lot more with CR7 in our lineup. His signing might also go a long way in convincing Pogba to stay at United. Pogba wants to win trophies and Ronaldo is as close to a sure thing as it gets where trophies are concerned.
Ronaldo has proven that no matter where he goes, he can score 25+ goals a season, which could be worth as many as 10-12 extra points on the backend of the season. That is the difference between a trophy and going home empty handed.
I have no doubt that this is a grand homecoming for CR7.
Genuine Signing or Media Distraction?
That being said, like Paul Pogba, I have the utmost respect for CR7 the athlete, but I have little respect for Cristiano Ronaldo the man. First, I would argue that this is foremost a media ploy for United. It all happened too quickly to be otherwise. It is not much more than a high-profile way for the Glazers to further appease the fans and sell kits. At 37 there is no guarantee he will perform for United, only a guarantee that he will sell kits.
Second, he might be a great teacher for the younger players and a great example of leadership in the squad, but he will demand playing time. Ronaldo playing week-in-week-out pushes multiple players out of position, or to the bench, and limits game time for our developing young attackers.
The Domino Effect
What if Ronaldo plays off the left or right as an inverted attacker? This is the same position that Rashford, Pogba Sancho, and James like to play. Pogba would have to drop into the midfield two, which wouldn’t be the end of the world. Though I doubt Pogba would appreciate that.
If Rashford and Sancho or Greenwood start on either side of the front three then Ronaldo would displace Cavani in the No9 spot. Don’t get me started on how little game time Martial and James will get, let alone Mata, Lingard, Amad, Elanga or Shoretire. With Ronaldo pushing Pogba deeper into the midfield two, Donny van de Beek will likely see even less game time then the few minutes he is getting now.
Ronaldo’s Impact on United’s Long Term Transfer Business
His signing doesn’t just cause problems for our starting lineup, it also has huge implications for our future transfer plans. Mainly that of Manchester United’s pursuit of Haaland or Kane. United have been rumored to be holding out until next summer to chase a striker. With the game time and wages CR7 demands, it is unlikely we would be able to entice Haaland or Kane to come to United.
Some have argued that CR7 is such a world class talent that other players want to play with him. I would say this is only true for players who don’t play in the same position as Ronaldo. Take Messi moving to PSG as another example. Mbappe has the opportunity to play alongside Messi. Yet he still wants to leave PSG because he doesn’t want to play second fiddle to Messi or Naymar. Are to believe that Haaland or Kane would be any different?
The only way we would have space in the team and on the wage budget for Kane or Haaland’s wage demands is if we offload Martial, Cavani and at least one other attacker next summer.
I just don’t see this happening considering United haven’t been able to sell players to save their lives. We have too many players on astronomical wages that no other team can afford to take on. With Ronaldo signing there is simply too much conspiring against us signing a new striker next summer for me to believe that Haaland and Kane won’t go elsewhere.
Should Ronaldo Be Forgiven?
I still have a big problem with Ronaldo.
Say what you will about his time at United, the way he left the club is about as disrespectful as it gets. The only way his departure would have been a worse slap in the face to United fans is if he had gone to Liverpool or Manchester City.
Ronaldo spent two years publicly courting Real Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson had to practically beg him to stay for one more season before moving to the Bernabeu. He showed so little respect towards his teammates, Sir Alex and all Manchester United fans. Not to mention his final farewell to United was missing a penalty kick in the 08’ Champions League final.
Lets also not forget, that until Pep Guardiola rejected a move for Ronaldo this week, Manchester City was his preferred choice. Yet another gut punch from this supposed United legend. All the transfer rumors out there suggested Ronaldo and City were in negotiations first. It wasn’t until the City hierarchy decided he didn’t fit the profile of player they wanted to sign that Ronaldo’s camp quickly switched gears to United.
I don’t really care that in the years to follow he talked about United and Sir Alex so fondly. I don’t care that he is perhaps one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch. Respect matters so much more. Ronaldo could have still courted Madrid for those two years, but had he done it more privately and had more respect for United in the process, I would have accepted his desire to move to his childhood dream club.
Cautious Optimism
He and Pogba have shown so little respect for this club and its fans that they’d need to carry us to another treble this season to convince me to forgive either of them. Pogba has started the season in spectacular form and Ronaldo is a genuine world beater on his worst day. That at least warrants a chance for both of them, but I’m not holding my breath.
It has been long enough since Ronaldo left United for Real Madrid that I can temporarily look past the disrespect. As a lifelong United fan, I will give CR7 the opportunity to prove me wrong this season. But as my grandmother used to tell me all the time as a kid, he is on thin ice.
Glory, Glory Man United.
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