Cristiano Ronaldo Is Taking His Talents to Juventus (For Real, Not Joking)
Yeah okay then Ronnie, go ahead and try overshadowing the World Cup semi-final that you didn’t qualify for then. It didn’t work, mate. France vs Belgium was the be all and end all of football on this day. There’s no overshadowing the flippin’ World Cup, not even in Italy. Nice try but forget about it.
Although this does mean that what would otherwise have been the biggest news of the entire European offseason has really been buried here. Like, it’s still been significant and all that. You’re not dodging this one… but stop and think about this for a second: Cristiano Ronaldo has transferred to Juventus. This, to paraphrase a wise man, is kind of a big deal.
For Juventus it’s simple enough, they’re the best team in Italy but have fallen short in the Champions League the last couple seasons despite hanging in there in the latter stages – two finals in the last for years. Ronaldo may be 33 but he’s one of the fittest people on the planet, one of the hardest trainers, and he could play ‘til 40 if he wants to (especially with the way he’s evolved his game).
The transfer’s bloody expensive. £88.3m for the fee and then another two and a half times that in salary and taxes for the next four years. They even had to bring in a new sponsor to pay for it – and you can expect a few more companies wanna be aligned with them after this. It’s a power play. It’s Juventus putting themselves up there in the same realm as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain and the top few teams in England. They (and Bayern Munich) were already up there in terms of ability and prestige but not quite in the financial stakes. Before this move their record deal was Gonzalo Higuain two years back but that was offset by the sale of Paul Pogba. They’re big spenders now though, champion.
As for his fit in the team, don’t even worry about it. The modern day centre-forward version of Ronaldo is actually a perfect fit for Juve and Massimo Allegri will have no troubles whatsoever in making this work. Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic might not be too chuffed, same with the entire rest of the Serie A, but only a serious nutter would doubt that Juve are getting someone special here.
The word that he might be splitting with Real Madrid originated from the horse’s mouth itself. Ronaldo dropped some heavy hints after the Champions League final and it was believed that he was finally sick of dealing with the Florentino Perez circus. He didn’t think he got enough support from the club with his tax issues. He probably felt that the club was starting to look past him into a future where someone like, oh let’s say Neymar, is the face of Real Madrid. He might also have simply felt it was time for a change.
So Ronaldo asked for a transfer and Real Madrid obliged. The man himself called it a “new stage in my life” and that sounds about right. Because this move, friends, marks the beginning of a new era. The World Cup always shakes up the established order and now Real Madrid, the most powerful club on the planet, has parted ways with potentially its greatest ever player.
Oh you dispute that? Sure, Alfredo Di Stefano has a case. But 450 goals in 438 games including 44 hat-tricks and 16 major trophies including four Champions Leagues is nothing to be scoffed at. That level of production over nine whole seasons… it was unheard of in modern football until this bloke came along. Well, this bloke and that other bloke.
Yup, Lionel Messi is a hidden figure in this. The rivalry will never be over because sports fans never tire of comparing apples and oranges but the Clasicos are no longer a matter of Cristiano vs Lionel. That chapter is closed. Even the sun goes down, heroes eventually die. Such is life.
If Ronaldo wanted a transfer and Real Madrid were willing to let him go then there were only a tiny handful of choices out there. Considering Juve could barely afford it then Bayern were doubtful. PSG already have Kylian Mbappe and, for now, Neymar. With a brand such as CR7 he sorta needs to be the top dawg. Can’t move elsewhere in Spain. Juventus are there. Manchester United too but does he want to play for Jose Mourinho again? Juventus it is then. They made it happen as they were always gonna to do with an opportunity such as this, a five-time Ballon D’Or on the market.
Ah but why were Real Madrid willing to let him go? That’s the big question and a little deduction explains all that. You can always trust Real Madrid to swoop in and sign the biggest name they can after the World Cup. It’s what a Galactico club does. Last time it was James Rodriguez. This time think names like Neymar, Eden Hazard or Harry Maguire. Okay, probably not Harry Maguire. In fact let’s be honest and admit that it’s going to be Neymar. And Real Madrid will somehow become even less likeable. Which… fair enough. Do what you’ve gotta do, Perez.
Remember that Julen Lopetegui has replaced Zinedine Zidane as manager. Remember that while they won the Champions League they also finished third on the league ladder, a massive seventeen points behind Barcelona. They also needed a fresh injection and, with a new gaffer, now’s as good a time as any for Ronaldo to pass the torch. Make it a clean break on both ends.
This might even be one of those lovely occasions where everyone wins. Regardless of that though, the club landscape in world footy just shifted rather significantly. And it probably won’t settle down for a fair while yet.
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