According to a recent report by AS, Real Madrid will not make an effort to bring their former winger Cristiano Ronaldo back to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this summer. A source close to the Spanish club has said (via AS), “He does not fit into the sporting policy of the club.”
Even though Los Blancos president Florentino Pérez still holds the Portuguese superstar in high regard, the La Liga outfit have no plans of making a move for him this summer. According to the same source (via AS), “His (Ronaldo) time has passed and there are different sporting objectives.”
Age Is Just A Number For Ronaldo
Despite turning 35 back in February, Ronaldo has shown no signs of slowing down and is still one of the most feared attackers in European football. The Portuguese international has maintained his prolific goal-scoring record in the Serie A this season after scoring 25 goals and providing four assists in 32 appearances for Maurizio Sarri’s side this term in all competitions. His impressive numbers highlight how consistent he can still be in terms of banging in goals in the final third.
The 35-year-old has averaged 4.4 shots, 0.6 key passes and 2.0 dribbles in every 90 minutes of UEFA Champions League football this season (stats via whoscored). However, he had performed slightly better in the Serie A where he averaged 5.9 shots, 1.7 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game before the football world came to a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic (stats via whoscored).
Ronaldo is currently the skipper of the Portuguese national side and will be expected to lead his country in the upcoming UEFA European Championship which has been rescheduled to kick off in the summer of 2021. The former Manchester United speedster has registered 99 goals in 164 matches for Portugal thus far, which is an incredible record that has cemented his place amongst the greatest players ever in the history of world football.
What Are The Portuguese Maestro’s Greatest Strengths And Biggest Weakness?
Despite not being as mobile as he was back in his hay days, Ronaldo has still managed to be a potent goal-threat for Juve up top. He can get some strikes in on-target and often packs a lot of power and precision with his shot attempts. However, the Portugal international has lacked invention in the final third, which explains why he has got just four assists to his name so far this season.
Did Los Blancos Make The Correct Call By Not Moving In For Ronaldo This Summer?
Ronaldo is a superstar on the decline, but he seems to have still got something to offer at the highest level. However, a summer switch back to the Spanish capital doesn’t make any sense for the player at this stage of his playing career. Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane should avoid re-signing the Portuguese wide player at all costs as he won’t be a long-term solution to his attacking problems at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The French manager should instead focus all his attention on recruiting players at their prime rather than trying to relive old memories by going for a nostalgic option like Ronaldo. All signs point towards Los Blancos making the right decision by opting against a move for the 35-year-old this summer.
