Playing for Real Madrid. His time at the Spanish giants has been an undoubted success. He has become the first player to score more than 40 goals in La Liga more than once. If it was not for Leo Messi, Ronaldo would be by far the best player in the world today, his remarkable talents showcased week by week on defences which simply can’t handle him.
The Portuguese legend was pivotal last year as Madrid won La Liga, wresting the title from Barcelona for the first time in four years. Yet despite the success he has achieved at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo seems unhappy and seemingly set to depart Madrid unless something happens to change things and get him to sign a new contract.
It is this background which will be talked about when Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Champions League this spring. He has never played since leaving United after the Champions League final of 2009. He was one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League and his time in England was remarkable, his skill and ability above his peers as he dominated the game whilst with United.
Could he be set for a return to the club with whom he built his reputation? It cannot be discounted altogether, as United know full well his value, although at the same time, they are keen to ensure that they sign players with resale value. Ronaldo would not fit into that philosophy, but then neither did Robin van Persie. You get the feeling that if Sir Alex Ferguson wants him, he will do everything he can to convince the club’s owners to spend big on the Portuguese. And it could even be argued United already have their resale value on him. If they can re-sign the player for an amount that still means they have spent less on transfer fees for Ronaldo than they have recouped from him, they could consider that good value and worthwhile.
Lurking in the background however are the oil funded euros at Paris St Germain. The Qatari owned outfit can buy whoever they want, and Ronaldo certainly is not out of their range. Having broken the bank for Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season they would surely put out all of the stops to get Ronaldo from Real Madrid. The Qataris care about image and profile and in terms of global profile, is there a bigger player than Ronaldo?
Particularly if Paris St Germain bring in Jose Mourinho as their next coach, as has been often mooted, to replace the seemingly exit bound Carlo Ancelotti. It would be a new challenge in his career and one completely different from those he has had in Manchester and Madrid. Yet there is something more romantic about a return to Old Trafford. Maybe a visit for a Champions League night will convince him that is the move to make.
