Upon finishing a 4-year $133 million dollar contract with Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo has signed to Manchester United in the English Premier League. This decision comes with uncertainty, regarding how the new club will affect his future performance as well as how the chemistry of the team will play out during the season.
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the best soccer players to ever play professionally, causing a multitude of teams to request him, including AC Milan, PSG, and Manchester United. However, Ronaldo chose Manchester United as “Manchester United is a club that has always had a special place in my [his] heart” and that he is “looking forward to joining up with the team after the international games.”
Soccer player transfers often result in extreme fan reactions, but this transfer is far more significant. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the title for most Champions League goals, as well as most goals in a UEFA Champions League season by an individual (17) and most goals scored in the UEFA European Championships including qualifying matches (23).
Placing official awards aside, Ronaldo’s skill level is incomparable to other players. Solely from watching his playstyle, one can conclude that Ronaldo has a unique talent for this sport. Given Ronaldo’s qualifications, it is logical to believe that he will be a great asset for any team.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo has joined another prestigious soccer club that holds numerous titles in several tournaments, soccer analysts are curious as to how he will fit into the new atmosphere and how the chemistry of the team will be affected. Many people call Ronaldo a one-man army, which can most certainly be backed up given his past performances. However, Manchester United has always been a very organized and coherent team that is exceptional in playmaking and team strategies. Ronaldo will have to change his playstyle to fit the team’s needs, but it is unlikely that we will see a drop in his performance with Manchester United.
Vikas Maganti ‘22, varsity soccer captain, notes, “Ronaldo has always been a great player. Even if he goes to a worse team like Tottenham, he will still play very well.” Though there is a slight minority of people that believe Ronaldo will be placed at a disadvantage, he will be playing alongside other star players including Paul Pogba, Jadon Sancho, and Edinson Cavani. Now that Ronaldo’s transfer has officially been complete, the team is placing emphasis on building the chemistry of the team as their unique play styles collide.
Cristiano Ronaldo has always been at the forefront of professional soccer, and his decision to transfer to Manchester United has sparked a fire in the soccer community. As the English Premier League begins, Ronaldo is most certainly a player to keep an eye on as his performances will be scrutinized more closely.
