Cristiano Ronaldo: Take off on the home stretch

Status: 11/22/2022 11:26 p.m

Cristiano Ronaldo seems to fail to end his enormous career with dignity. Apparently he is even more withdrawn than already suspected.

Making a great athletic career is a feat. Worthy of ending such a career, a masterpiece. Cristiano Ronaldo seems to join the list of those who fail at this last hurdle. His enormous ego stands in his way.

The fairytale tale of Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United ended with a terse, cool story on the club’s website. The separation was amicable, United wrote there on Tuesday (November 22, 2022). In fact, it was probably the only way out for both sides. Too much had happened in the past few weeks.

An interview that gives you a deep insight

Ronaldo had forced the now announced separation with a TV interview that had not been agreed with his employer. With TV presenter Piers Morgan, he dealt out against the club owners, his ex-coach Ralf Rangnick and, above all, the current coach Erik ten Hag. “I don’t respect him because he doesn’t respect me.” That sentence alone would have been reason enough for termination.

In the hour-and-a-half interview, Ronaldo gives a deep look, also between the lines. A man is speaking there who has lost his grip on reality over the many years as a world star. Who sees himself as GOAT, the greatest player of all time. And who wants to be treated accordingly.

Break with ten Hag against Tottenham

Ronaldo and ten Hag didn’t fit right from the start. The Dutch coach dared to mostly bench Ronaldo, the five-time world footballer, in the Premier League – an insult to majesty. The final break came in the home game against Tottenham in October. Ten Hag wanted to bring Ronaldo in just before the end of the game, but Ronaldo refused to come on and left the stadium early.

“I felt provoked” said Ronaldo now in an interview. “A coach can’t send me into a game for three minutes, sorry. I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give my teams.” That Ronaldo three days earlier as a starting player against newcastle disappointed and his team-mates excelled without him against Tottenham, he seems to ignore.

“Good looks help too”

The fact that his club then banned him for three days despite an apology for the action disappointed him, it was a shame. Ronaldo described how his son, aptly named Cristiano junior, received him at home in surprise. “How can they punish you when you are the best player in the world?” He replied: “I can’t play because I didn’t behave.”

Ronaldo hovers above things, enjoys his special status. He is “proud” that nobody has more followers on Instagram than he does. “I’m a fruit that people want to bite into,” Ronaldo said, “like a strawberry. Looking good helps too.”

Huge supply from Saudi Arabia

Ronaldo used the interview with Piers Morgan for a sweeping blow. He wants to put some things in perspective, including media reports from the summer when it was said he wanted to leave United. “I was happy here. I was motivated to have a great season”said Ronaldo.

Above all, however, he did not resent his loyalty to United being called into question. But that in the end it was often said: nobody wanted Ronaldo. That’s not true, among other things, he turned down an enormous offer: 350 million euros for two seasons in Saudi Arabia.

Exemplary diligence

Superlatives, this is Ronaldo’s world. So far he has gotten away with his enormous ego because he has always delivered in sport. He was popular and respected among teammates, also because of his enormous diligence. “I’m a role model. I’m the first to come and the last to go. I like to lead by example,” says Ronaldo.

He wants to play for two or three more years and end his career at the age of 40. A move to Saudi Arabia would be an opportunity to cash in again and to cover up possible sporting deficits. He could turn a blind eye to the devastating human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.

Another big club?

But a successful career conclusion would look different – and is not that difficult. Ronaldo could switch to a big club again, maybe to his native Portugal. Although he wouldn’t be guaranteed a start there either at the age of 37, he doesn’t have to prove to anyone that he can play football exceptionally well.

But he could mentor young players, leading the way on and off the pitch. Set aside his right to special treatment, put himself at the service of the team. His positive sides show his social commitment, his team spirit. And he could correct the rapt impression he left in Manchester – and in the TV interview.

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