How do you solve a problem like Cristiano Ronaldo? Manchester United just do not know or have the capability to attempt to know.
Manchester United have announced that Cristiano Ronaldo may leave but is not up for sale at the moment. This statement alone seems to pinpoint the indecisiveness of Manchester United. In fact, they are decisive at being indecisive. Why can’t they just make a decision? Why do they have to be such hard work? Do they know what to do? What do their abundance of sporting directors actually do? There is no joined up strategy and this Cristiano Ronaldo problem really highlights this.
Manchester United seem to love making headlines. The more clicks equals more revenue. This farce is becoming more prominent than ever. Football should do the talking. Football seems to have been long forgotten and commercial interests seem more prevalent in this unsavoury episode.
The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo was extremely exciting and he was United’s main performer at an elite level last season. Ronaldo carried them in the Champions League group stage and you hope these performances would have had an example to younger players.
However, do you really think youngsters from the FA Youth Cup winning squad sit and marvel at Ronaldo training? I may be wrong but my gut tells me this is the biggest of footballing clichés out there.
Manchester United were a Champions League team when Cristiano Ronaldo signed. They must have been deluded if they thought the 2021 version of Cristiano Ronaldo was going to be in it for the long haul.
Once Manchester United failed to qualify for the 2022/23 Champions League they should have been plotting Cristiano Ronald’s exit. The biggest players want to play on the biggest stage. The greatest ever want to stay at the pinnacle. These superstars want to continue to break records.
Signing perhaps the most indulgent and ego centric of all professional footballers should have really highlighted this. It should have smacked Manchester United’s hierarchy in the face.
Manchester United’s amateur approach is so misplaced it’s is like that of the many 30 yard free kicks Cristiano Ronaldo attempts that miss the target. Noted the more attempts equals the more likely you will score is Cristiano Ronaldo’s approach. The thing is he practices and accepts those failures and strives to improve.
The question is do Manchester United?
Manchester United sleepwalked into the 2022/23 season and are more reactive than ever. Once Cristiano Ronaldo announced his desire to leave they announced he’s not for sale. Manchester United should have been proactive.
They should have facilitated a mutual departure. Manchester United should have allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to leave under mutual respect.
United could have come out and announce that he’s keen to pursue Champions League football and at his age and time in his career Manchester United respect that. It would have tidied things up and allow a clean cut exit. Both parties happy and relations are still strong.
Why the need for a bitter divorce?
Manchester United had already persuaded the 2008/09 version of Cristiano Ronaldo to stay one more year. The 2022 version has dwarfed the 2009 version beyond measure. Whether you like it or not, the 2022 Cristiano Ronaldo edition calls the shots. Especially when his club are not in his Champions League domain.
Manchester United should have been prepared for this. Or did they want it to run and run? You can’t help but thinking the answer is yes. Cristiano Ronaldo equals news and that results an abundance of commercial advertising. Cha-ching!
It was always going to be problematic in this crazy world where everyone has a say (yours truly included). It would have caused major problems for Sir Alex Ferguson to plot the new season with these rumblings happening.
However, Manchester United have given new manager Eric ten Hag the keys to Old Trafford. The keys to a fallen empire. An empire so riddled it’s like it’s own disease. Eric ten Hag needs full focus to implement his methods and allow a hopeful renaissance of Manchester United.
The Cristiano Ronaldoless tour of Thailand and Australia provided energetic hope and a new direction. He wasn’t really news. Pace, pressing and excitement were the narratives reported.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the distraction once he posted himself training at home in Manchester United shorts. Careful product placement of the shorts to suggest he still cares. Also, Manchester United were homeward bound. It was like a warning sign to the club to sort out his wish to leave or there will be trouble. You can certainly say trouble appeared.
Manchester United’s abject failures in the opening Premier League matches have created media havoc. Havoc in terms of potential signings, the Glazers and the so called negative influence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo may be a negative influence in terms of his winning desire. At the age of 37, Cristiano Ronaldo does not deserve the criticism that’s being placed on him. Yes, his performances have been below par. It should be noted he produced plenty of winning moments last season.
Manchester United should have allowed him the opportunity to leave and grant his wish. Shake hands and say it didn’t quite work out. Manchester United could have said something along the lines of, “it was us, not you.”
Manchester United decide to announce after two embarrassing emphatic defeats that Cristiano Ronaldo may be allowed to leave but the only if Eric ten Hag wants him to.
It’s accepted that the Manchester United manager should be big enough to make any decision that’s needed for footballing improvement. If Eric ten Hag decides Cristiano Ronaldo is not for him then we shall see how the future plays out. Perhaps it will underline Ten Hag’s authority. Perhaps it will state to the mass underperforming Manchester United players that they will follow the exit of the greatest ever if they do not muck in.
These are hopeful hypotheticals that will bring some sort of footballing order at Manchester United.