If Manchester United get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo they are even more clueless than we thought

Cristiano Ronaldo is suffering from this “build them up and knock them down” syndrome, but in a much more prolonged fashion than is normal. He has slowly become the conduit for the pain and disappointment that envelops Old Trafford. The notion that getting rid of him might cure the ills of a club out of touch with their own ethos is ludicrous, but lightning rods are all the rage.

Just as everyone else is busy falling out of love with Ronaldo, I find myself head over heels in admiration. Having never been much of a fan, this has caught me off guard. Ronaldo was always too cocky and self-satisfied for my liking. His style of play was effective – of course it was, he has scored more than 800 goals in his career – but it left me cold.

Whenever the chat was about GOATs (the greatest of all-time), I would back Lionel Messi because of the added layer of aesthetic brilliance. Watching how Karim Benzema emerged from the shadow of Ronaldo at Real Madrid once his strike partner had left added to the sense that for all his prowess, Ronaldo was not a true team player – that the brand mattered more than anything, rather than it being down to Benzema’s character. Then came Manchester United’s trip to the Emirates in April. Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, had recently announced that their son had died in childbirth.

The Arsenal fans applauded with warm sympathy in the seventh minute and the striker acknowledged their show of support. Goodness knows how he kept his feelings in check, kept running, even scoring his team’s only goal. Yes, sport has a way of warding off extraneous issues, and is arguably the best way to give yourself a break from all manner of problems, but the game had been punctuated with a stark reminder of his grief. Ronaldo’s professionalism was astonishing and, in that moment, I saw the athlete of intense dedication and purpose that I had somehow mistaken for a preening peacock.

“History has been written in the past and history will be written once again,” he posted after signing from Juventus last summer to join United for a second coming. “You have my word!”

He was 36 but, overall, the deal was considered a coup for what the striker could bring to a fractured dressing room and an under-pressure manager. That he had been linked with Manchester City was enough to spark waves of relief among United fans, but gradually the doubts set in. Was he too influential, overbearing? Was he too selfish? Was he too slow? Was his age at the heart of why United failed to press properly?

The team missed out on a Champions League spot last season and Ronaldo was placed at the heart of the reasons why – and he is, right now, the scapegoat extraordinaire. The handling of Ronaldo has become a top priority for Erik ten Hag. It feels as if the new manager’s success hinges on it. It is not so ridiculous that the five-times Ballon d’Or winner would want to leave if, as he says, he had made plain that he could cut short his two-year contract if United failed to finish in the top four. Quite why Ten Hag did not immediately sit down with the former Real star to explain his vision for rescuing United is perplexing.

Telling the media that he could trigger a clause to extend Ronaldo’s stay to 2024 felt counterproductive. I am sure there are many people who would relish being the boss of Ronaldo, but wallowing in the fact is not useful. When we were shown images of Ronaldo sitting on the bench during the defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, I did not see self-indulgence, but a sportsman who cares and wants others to hate losing as much as he does.

You can be sure if Ronaldo does leave and is a success elsewhere that it will add to the grubby pile of factors stopping United from flourishing.

If the club think getting rid of someone like that is useful in the quest for success, or that to make sure he knows his place will help a fractured relationship, then they are more deluded than we realise.

– The Times

Originally published as If Manchester United get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo they are even more clueless than we thought