Alongside Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is football's biggest star in recent decades. Now, at the age of 37, his career is approaching the home straight. In order to play in the Champions League for the 20th year in a row, CR7 wants to leave Manchester United. But who wants to buy it anyway?
Cristiano Ronaldo has not started training at Manchester United after the recent fuss about his person. It was only announced at the weekend that the 37-year-old wanted to leave Old Trafford after just one season in order to play in the Champions League for the 20th year in a row.
The Red Devils are said not to be willing to sell the Portuguese yet. "Family reasons" are said to have been the main reason for the absence, but the Portuguese's departure seems only a matter of time. Where it could go for him is still completely unclear. The aging star would turn any club's system upside down, they say. Hardly anyone will want to pay his current salary of almost 30 million euros per year.
Ronaldo was recently associated with Bayern Munich. In the Allianz Arena, the 37-year-old could replace Robert Lewandowski, who will soon be 34, should he be able to move to FC Barcelona. Even if nobody in Munich officially wants to know anything about this transfer, the rumor persists. A change would still be a sensation. Which of course hardly prevents anyone from dreaming of the idea of the multiple world footballer in FC Bayern Munich clothing.
It's an idea that record national player Lothar Matthäus, for example, considers "sexy". The former Bayern Munich star recommends his old club to at least consider the Portuguese. Ronaldo would be an obligation "not a transfer with a view to the future", wrote Matthäus in his Sky column, and would also "constantly make headlines", but ultimately he is "one of the best strikers of all time", who would guarantee around 30 goals. "Refinancing through jersey sales and the like would be guaranteed," added the 61-year-old.
Far more realistic than a move to FC Bayern Munich, however, is currently the option FC Chelsea. The club of German coach Thomas Tuchel is still looking for a new identity after changing ownership from Roman Abramowitsch to the multi-billion dollar consortium around the American Todd Boehly. Boehly is not only a co-owner of the club, but is also currently in charge of the 2021 Champions League winner as interim sporting director.
According to a "The Athletic" report, Boehly is said to have already met with Ronaldo advisor Jorge Mendes to discuss, among other things, the basic interest in a transfer. Financially, Chelsea could make Ronaldo's commitment without any problems, but the question remains whether Thomas Tuchel could imagine the superstar in his team.
Although Tuchel is a fan of Ronaldo, reports "The Athletic", one big problem remains: Does the Portuguese even fit into the London club's system? It's a question that hovers over everyone else and also makes other clubs doubt a possible commitment. His 24 goals in 38 games for Manchester United last season did nothing to hide the Portuguese's unwillingness to run or press.
In order to get Ronaldo into the game properly, his team's game must be completely tailored to him. Ralf Rangnick already despaired of this during his short tenure at Manchester United. Austria's current national coach recognized a huge dilemma early on. He couldn't play with him in the starting lineup, but he couldn't play without him either. The name of the returnee, who had signed for the Red Devils for the second time in the summer of 2021 after nine years at Real Madrid and three more at Juventus Turin, was too big.
"Even Manchester United became Ronaldo FC. Everything is subordinate to him," commented the "Guardian". This danger also exists with his future club. The increasingly antiquated football of the Portuguese, his immense salary expectations, which he wants to reduce at least a little, reduce the circle of potential clubs to a minimum. In addition to Chelsea and Bayern Munich, to which Ronaldo was at least offered, there have also recently been reports of a possible move to SSC Napoli.
23-year-old Victor Osimhen, who once started his European career at VfL Wolfsburg, is still playing there. The Nigerian has long been one of the top stars in the Italian league and is now also associated with FC Bayern Munich. The always excited Italian press reported that Osimhen was one of the possible successors to Robert Lewandowski at the record champions. The hook? Napoli are demanding €120m for the striker, who scored 18 goals in 32 games for Diego Maradona's former club last season, according to Corriere dello Sport.
