Cristiano Ronaldo will bring plenty of goals and big-game experience to Manchester United. But the effects of the move could run much deeper.
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In case it isn’t yet evident, the summer transfer window of 2021 has been well and truly crazy. How often is it that you see the captains of Real Madrid and Barcelona leave for free transfers to join the exact same club? To make things even more surreal, a number of top sides have spent massive sums to bring in just a player – see Chelsea and Manchester City as examples. The topsy-turvy nature of the window carried on when Cristiano Ronaldo was primed to join City, only to pull a massive U-turn and join former club Manchester United instead. It was a move no one saw coming, yet here we are. Ronaldo is a Red Devil once again and City miss out on a high profile target… once again.
In a way, Ronaldo’s United return makes way more sense than his mooted move to City ever did. Sure, he would have won trophies aplenty at City – but the bridges with United would be severely scorched, if not completely burned.
As things stand, however, his standing among United fans has been boosted. And he will walk into a side that, for all intents and purposes, look ready to challenge for major trophies this season.
But, aside from the obvious nostalgia of bringing home a former great, the signing of Ronaldo can potentially transform the club in many ways.
The first, of course, is that it is a statement signing, a signing showing real intent. It is also a departure from United’s recent transfer strategy under manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.
In recent seasons, the club have focused more on squad-building for the present and the future. This means signing relatively younger talent and developing them over time.
Even some of their bigger signings – Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho being prime examples – are players expected to be around for the long haul. Not Ronaldo though.
The Portuguese superstar remains in tip-top shape, but Father Time waits for no man. As such, it is fair to believe the 36-year-old will not form part of the backbone for United’s long-term success.
However, his experience is something United desperately need. The core of their squad are either younger talents or players reaching their prime years. Ronaldo is already in his peak and has played in – and won – a number of big games through his career.
This is something that can prove invaluable not only for the club, but for the younger players too. Many would have grown up watching Ronaldo and now have the chance to play alongisde him.
The hope is also that his elite mentality and ruthless streak will rub off on a squad that is seen as needing an edge. For all the progress United have made in recent seasons, silverware has proved elusive.
Signing a proven winner like Ronaldo, however, almost guarantees having that little extra for bigger games. It was a lack of proven game-winners which arguably prevented them winning the Europa League last season.
Now though, the club have a player with plenty of trophy-winning experience – and the hunger to win more.
Arguably the main reason Cristiano Ronaldo wanted out of Juventus was the fact that, in the past three years, the side have regressed. And while many blame Ronaldo himself for that, doing so is overly simplistic.
Yes, there is no doubt about the fact that he was part of the issue. Ronaldo might be a supreme talent, but industry has not and will now never be part of his game.
However, there is no doubt that Juventus’ balance and shape suffered due to having to accomodate Ronaldo. The flip side, of course, is that the club more often than not shot themselves in the foot in other ways.
There was no coherent transfer strategy during Ronaldo’s time at the club, meaning the squad was disjointed from the off. To make things worse, there was no stability in the managerial chair either.
It’s worth remembering that, in three seasons at Juventus, Ronaldo played for three different managers. That is not and never will be the basis for long-term success.
As a result, Juventus went from a side reaching the Champions League finals to getting knocked out in the quarterfinals – and even the Round of 16.
Ronaldo has made little secret of his desire to win the Champions League again, and will be desperate to fire the side to European glory.
It is worth remembering that the last time United won the trophy, it was with Ronaldo in the side. And this was a very different player to the one who is now returning.
The current Ronaldo brings not only winners pedigree but also has a point to prove. And an elite player with a fire in his belly is a dangerous proposition for opponents.
Having said that, it is worth noting that signing Ronaldo alone might not be the wisest use of available funds. The side desperately need a new central midfielder and would do well to add one before August 31.
That is, of course, easier said than done. But relying on Fred for the entirety of the season seems like a foolhardy proposition at best.
That also seems like the one area where United are truly lacking. Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes bring goals and creativity aplenty, and don’t forget about Donny van de Beek as a reserve option.
Yet the club lack a midfield general – someone who could operate either as a deep-lying playmaker or a defensive midfielder. Whether or not they can get such a signing in such a short time remains to be seen.
But those are, at least for United fans, worries for another day. Because Cristiano Ronaldo is back.
