Rumours are circulating that Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to leave Juventus next summer but Manchester United should not be the ones making a move.
You can already see it, a global superstar beloved by Manchester United fans plus a club that might feel like they need to make up for a disappointing summer – you can easily visualise Ed Woodward’s eyes lighting up. Bringing Ronaldo back to Old Trafford would be the romantic transfer that would bring a feel-good factor with it and paper over any lingering cracks.
United’s approach in the market is still far from perfect – see their fruitless pursuit of Jadon Sancho in the summer for example – but things appear to be slowly moving in the right direction. Which brings us to Cristiano Ronaldo.
It feels odd saying that United shouldn’t do everything in their power to bring Ronaldo back to the club. He’s the club’s last great number 7, still beloved by the supporters and every fan at some point has fantasised about his return. Sir Alex Ferguson seemed sure that he could convince him to come back before his retirement, but it wasn’t to be.
So why shouldn’t the Red Devils go back in for him?
Well first of all, there’s no Cristiano-shaped hole in this United team. Maybe if he were the right winger he was when he first singed for the club in 2004, but he’s not. He’s long since evolved into the goalscoring behemoth that demands to be the focal point of any team that he plays for.
Signing Ronaldo would require Solskjaer to shoehorn him in somewhere, rather than him slotting into an area of need. He may have the physique of somebody in their mid-twenties, but he’s still 35. For the financial outlay necessary for a transfer of this magnitude, you’d be hoping to get at least 5 years out of the player. Can that be guaranteed with someone who will be 36 in February?
There are other areas of the United team that need addressing. Sign a proper right winger and a top class centre back, and then maybe you can think of adding someone like Ronaldo into the mix. The money that would be spent on his transfer could be better used elsewhere to help improve the team.
Furthermore, we’re sure United fans could do with at least one transfer window without a long running saga.
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Last summer saw them NOT sign Jadon Sancho despite being the only club in for him. The previous January was dominated by the drawn out Bruno Fernandes transfer. Even last summer saw them play a game of cat-and-mouse with Leicester City for Harry Maguire.
If there was any confidence that they could get a deal done in a swift and simple manner then that would be one thing. But is there anything in United’s recent transfer history to suggest that’s the case?
The rumours, the elevated hopes, the constant tweeting at Fabrizio Romano – it’s exhausting. And that’s for players United actually need. If it’s for a cherry on top of a cake that has not been iced very well then it’s probably better to just spare everybody the trouble.
There was a time when United would’ve bent over backwards to try and bring Ronaldo back to the club. It just feels like that ship has sailed. Signing Ronaldo doesn’t make much sense at this point, and the powers that be should realise that sooner rather than later.