Ronaldo’s a Reds legend, but re-signing him Will be backward step
UNITED’S progress this season cannot be underestimated, with the side that swept aside Tottenham at the weekend being unrecognisable from the team that conceded six to Jose Mourinho’s side earlier in the campaign.
Victory in north London has all-but secured the Reds’ top-four finish and the Champions League football that comes with it, allowing attention to start to shift towards transfer business.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a decent record in the window. While Alex Telles and Donny van de Beek have not played as much as expected, the groundwork has been laid for the pair in the coming seasons.
In Bruno Fernandes, it’s difficult to find a player who has had as big an impact on a club since his arrival.
Then there’s Edinson Cavani, who has been an impactful squad player, while Amad has shone in his early appearances and optimism is high for Facundo Pellestri. Clearly, United have learnt from their previous mishaps in the market.
That’s why reports from Italy suggesting Cristiano Ronaldo could seal a sensational return to Old Trafford will have raised eyebrows – and maybe some concerns.
At 36, he is still a deadly force in front of goal and a superstar of the game, a player who would undoubtedly provide a boost on and off the field – and he’s spoken about his desire to return to United before.
“I love Manchester. Everyone knows that. Manchester is in my heart. The supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day,” he said in 2014.
For nostalgia reasons, bringing Ronaldo back would be sensational. In
theory, though, it’s a signing that would make little sense and potentially cause issues further down the line.
The finances necessary to land him are monstrous, both in terms of a transfer fee and the weekly wages for the Portuguese icon, and Juventus may use the situation as an opportunity to push for Paul Pogba – who finally seems to have found his footing at United.
An alternative and significantly better option for Solskjaer is Erling Haaland, with the Borussia Dortmund ace providing the same impact as Ronaldo on the short-term but also the long-term boosts that the other does not.
Signing Haaland is not without its own risks, as a fierce transfer battle lies on the cards and the involvement of Mino Raiola will never be a comfortable ride, but the benefits far, far outweigh all of that.