Like many major clubs, Juventus are struggling financially so they may decide to invest in the biggest earner before his contract expires.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe’s incredible coming-of-age performances in the Champions League round of 16 games have accelerated debate over whether Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s time is already over.
Perhaps that is too soon, more reflective of the mainstream malaise surrounding Barcelona and Juventus than any recession on the part of Messi or Ronaldo.
Nevertheless, there is a growing awareness that the oldest time for the 36-year-old Ronaldo duo is running out.
It won’t go beyond this year’s Champions League 16 round, after Porto’s defeat, and it’s unlikely to add another Serie A title to his collection either.
He’s caught up in weird limbo, and he’s increasingly locked in between: his stripped-down style of play doesn’t fit the fashion for high pressure and positional rotation (philosophy taken in, with mixed results so far, with Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo) and Ronaldo still has 20 goals in 22 Serie A games this season.
Surprisingly, it is at the same time Juve’s most important asset and the worst of Pirlo’s tactics; pressure around his neck even as he takes control of games.
But superstitions like Ronaldo are caught in a second, just as uncomfortable, limbo.
The football industry is not yet feeling the economic impact of the pandemic. Money is scarce across Europe, with even the richest clubs falling into debt as a result of lost revenues over the previous 12 months: a recent study by market analyst KPMG suggested more € 1 billion (£ 855 million / $ 1.2bn) in lost revenue by Europe’s largest clubs.
So, it is not entirely clear who could pay for Ronaldo if he leaves Juventus, but it is unlikely that the Old Woman will be able to keep him.
There is also great doubt as to whether any elite club tactics would suit his style of play, even if it would be difficult to counter his incredible numbers …
Manchester United
In addition to the obvious romance of returning to Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjer ‘s side may be the best way for Ronaldo from a tactical standpoint.
Compared to most top club managers, the Manchester United coach does not preach high-pitched, complex position transitions, or the kind of ingenious details that can put Ronaldo off courting. .
Solskjaer allows solitude to rule, giving the attackers the freedom to make up their lines of attack and work out their ownership patterns accordingly.
The way in which Bruno Fernandes has excelled is a great example.
The Portuguese star, who has worked well with Ronaldo at international level, hit the ground running in England just because his manager trusted him to develop his own strategy. .
Moreover, as the weekend ‘s 2-0 win over Manchester City showed, Solskjaer is a strong supporter of games in which United will be able to face off, but his team can be struggling when the weakest clubs are destined to be broken down.
If United had beaten Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, and West Brom this season (there would only be four more goals to do so), they would only be four points short at first.
All they need is a little more firepower – a little magic, a goal out of nowhere – because when they are against a deep defense.
Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial have scored 10 league goals between them this season. Imagine how different their season would be if Ronaldo led the line …
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have never looked sensible under Zinedine Zidane, and while a major injury crisis has held them back, the French team is also suffering from overconfidence in aging stars.
Zidane does not use very complex tactics and, in that sense, Ronaldo’s return to the Bernabeu is plausible.
However, it would be particularly difficult for Madrid to justify the huge cost involved in adding another player in their mid – 30s to the team.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro continue to hold down midfield, while a false attacking line is sewn together by Karim Benzema.
It is no surprise, then, that it has become increasingly easy to sit back and intimidate a slow, aging team at Real Madrid.
Zidane needs an influx of younger, smarter players, not the return of one of the greatest players ever.
Ronaldo’s return to Real would surely draw unwelcome attention, hurting an albatross a club that desperately needs to embrace the future.
And maybe the manager is starting to do that.
Through Real’s reasonable run in December and recent form, Real Madrid have been winning the ball higher up the pitch, attacking more directly, and even trying out more unusual shapes with backup. turned into midfielders.
It’s hard to see how Ronaldo, who rarely pushes, could go back to his old team.
Paris Saint-Germain
Speaking of pressure, there is certainly no way Mauricio Pochettino would take control of a move for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Paris Saint-Germain have a vision for how they want to play football, and while the club is fond of superstitions leading the line, they have shown – with the employment of Thomas Tuchel and now Pochettino – that they want to adopt vertical and gegenpressing.
As Tottenham fans will know, Pochettino is urging young players to inspire his vision with Bielsa about breaking the lines with fast-paced, fast-changing football.
Some are already worried that Kylian Mbappe and Neymar may not work well together in Pochettino’s team, because while the former is linked to the manager’s methods of inclusion, there are concerns about those about end.
The financial issues affecting football show that no other club in Europe will be able to take on Mbappe or Neymar in the summer, and if that is the case, there is no way that even PSG would be able to add money to Ronaldo salary to their already huge salary bill.
The Juventus forward feel like a PSG signing a few years ago, not of the side now looking to upgrade through clever tactics rather than glamor signs.
Between Miami
Inter Miami, however, would obviously jump at the chance to shower in MLS by signing a superstar like Ronaldo.
As owner David Beckham said last month, “Without a doubt, [Ronaldo and Messi] the kind of players we want to bring to our club, ”he said.
“With Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo [Higuain], these are players we feel add to the look and glamor of what the club is all about. ”
Quickly, there’s not much to say. Inter Miami came 10th in the Eastern Conference last year, and new coach Phil Neville is hardly known for his ingenious acumen.
His England outfit was very naive, playing an obscure possession game that lacked detail and often made the team worse than the sum of its parts.
Ronaldo may believe that he still has a lot to offer at the highest level, but with his talents no longer naturally suited to modern European inventions, the “glitz” could which would come with trying to trade in the US to appeal to it.
The quality is low enough to give Ronaldo a place playing his own fast-paced game and, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic before him, Ronaldo may be enjoying the lifestyle of a Miami-based celebrity.