If Ronaldo joins Real Madrid this summer, he would play in the Champions League, giving him access to a bigger stage. He was quite open to returning to the club last summer after ten years away. He and his former coach, Carlo Ancelotti, have a sincere affection for one another, and Ancelotti is a pragmatist who isn’t committed to any particular system....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Although it isn’t the best tactical fit, Ancelotti is the man who can make it work. Additionally, there is money available due to the club missing out on Kylian Mbappe last month and Gareth Bale’s departure.
Over the years, there have been ups and downs in Ronaldo’s relationship with club president Florentino Perez, but he doesn’t harbor resentment (just ask Ancelotti).
Ronaldo might not get to start every game, but given the upcoming World Cup in November and its associated ramifications, that might be just fine for him.
If last season is any indication, Karim Benzema won’t have any trouble dropping deeper when Ronaldo comes inside. However, he might need to tweak his game a little bit.
Nowadays, Ronaldo performs best when he starts out wide and is partnered with a dedicated central striker in the middle.
Mariano Diaz and Borja Mayoral, Benzema’s backups, aren’t particularly good and certainly can’t do much of what Benzema does, but in a field they can provide the grunt labor so that Ronaldo can focus on his strengths.
Even if Vinicius could need to change flanks, it’s not a lot to ask of him at his age. Rodrygo, Eden Hazard, and Marco Asensio would have fewer playing time, but it is not a significant concern and would have happened even if Mbappe hadn’t signed. Additionally, Hazard’s fitness is always questioned, Rodrygo is still only 22, and Asensio has one year left on his contract.
It’s only a hypothetical situation, one that fans would find entertaining. Expect it to appear at the very end of the window if it does. Why not if Ronaldo agrees to a short-term deal and takes a wage reduction if United get off to a good start under Ten Hag.
