
<p>That’s all folks. It’s over. For the second time in his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has left Manchester United. Yet, unlike the first time, this won’t be for a record-breaking transfer fee. Nor does it come with the good will of the club, fans and teammates.</p>



<p>Instead, this time, one of the greatest players of all time silently shuffles out the back door mid-season. Everyone involved is eager to move on as quickly as possible.</p>



<p>How this came to be is a depressing story of ego, agents and a desperate TV presenter. However ugly the end, the uncomfortable truth is that his departure is actually good news for all parties.</p>



<h5>Not the Ronaldo of the older days</h5>



<p>The Ronaldo that arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2001 was not the same creature who left all those years ago. Yes, he has more goals, more records and more Instagram followers. Still, there is no denying this is very much post-peak Ronaldo. The desire was still there, the self-belief certainly still apparent. But, the blistering pace, incisive running and game-changing quality succumbed to the hands of time.</p>



<p>Of course, there were moments when he briefly shone to. Singlehandedly, Ronaldo rolled back the years and dragged Manchester United out of the depths. A hat trick against Tottenham Hotspur and numerous last-gasp Champions League winners are just examples. The club did not deserve results, but Ronaldo got them there.</p>



<p>That is what great players do, it remains in their DNA even during their decline. The issue was that the decline was irreversible and increasingly notable. Juventus spotted it too.</p>



<p>There was a sense of a pairing that never quite felt like the right fit. Like a middle-aged man trying to recapture his youth by squeezing into the leather jacket of his teenage years. The two were no longer compatible.</p>



<h2>Ronaldo exit from Man United benefits player and club</h2>



<p>United were a team in transition and eager to try to move to something a little more modern. Initially, Ronaldo played under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. The former United forward was an unthreatening manager. Surely, he was not strong enough to stand up to a player of Ronaldo’s power. </p>



<p>When he departed, and new manager Erik ten Hag eventually arrived, his high-pressing and physically demanding style of play was far more suited to a younger, more energetic model. The writing was on the wall.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Free agent Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a 2.5-year contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr in a deal potentially worth $200M per season, reports <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/marca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marca</a> 💰 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/GHJeOKdtqf">pic.twitter.com/GHJeOKdtqf</a></p>— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/brfootball/status/1599736895990562817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Things may’ve been smoother had there been a solid structure in place at United. Or at least something resembling a plan. One of the comments that rang true in Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan was his statement that United are a club in stasis. There has been no change, no urgency to develop and nobody in charge with a good idea. The irony of course is that had their been, there’s no way anyone sensible would have agreed to bring back an ageing Ronaldo no longer suited to this style and well past his best.</p>



<p>As sad as it is, that’s the truth of the matter. Ronaldo no longer fits in with United and United no longer fit with Ronaldo. He wants – needs – to be the main man at any club. Playing a bit-part role and spending more time on the bench doesn’t do any good for his GOAT image. And having an angry superstar earning half-a-million week while not playing doesn’t do much good for United either.</p>



<p>However the decision was made. Ronaldo, Man United and the fans must accept that this exit, this divorce of titans, is best for everybody.</p>



<p>Where <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/cristiano-ronaldo-offered-500-million-contract-from-saudi-club-20221130-WST-410595.html">Ronaldo ends up next</a> is <a href="https:\/\/www.si.com/soccer/chelsea/transfer-news/report-chelsea-target-cristiano-ronaldo-tipped-to-join-al-nassr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a decision for another day</a> but. Judging by the lack of super clubs’ willingness to sign him, his desire to play in the Champions League again may be over once and for all.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC</em></p>


The second edition of a Ronaldo exit from Man United does not have the acclaim of 2009. Yet, it is beneficial for all involved.

Ronaldo exit from Man United is good for all - World Soccer Talk

Ronaldo exit from Man United is good for all

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<p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/portugal-national-team-tv-schedule/">Portugal</a> star Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly received a massive contract offer from a Saudi Arabian club. Al Nassr FC supposedly offered the 37-year-old forward a deal that could be worth over $200 million per year. Ronaldo is now a free agent. Manchester United released him from his contract earlier this month. Therefore, he can choose any option he wishes.</p>



<p><a href="https:\/\/soccer.nbcsports.com/2022/11/30/cristiano-ronaldo-set-to-sign-207-million-per-year-deal-in-saudi-arabia-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC Sports</a> is claiming that the offer is a two-and-a-half year deal worth up to $517 million. If true, this would work out to over $17 million per month for Ronaldo to play in Saudi Arabia. Part of the contract negotiations from Al Nassr includes compensating Ronaldo for the wages at Manchester United that he missed out on. The star had about six months and $16 million left on his previous deal with United before termination.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cristiano Ronaldo has received a formal proposal from Al Nassr, confirmed. 🚨🇸🇦 <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/Ronaldo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ronaldo</a><br><br>Almost €200m per season until 2025.<br><br>But… big part is sponsor deals, so it’s not clear yet if image rights can be agreed.<br><br>Nothing done/signed or decided.<br><br>Cristiano, focused on World Cup. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/tVhgLhz92N">pic.twitter.com/tVhgLhz92N</a></p>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1597922984496201729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also suggested that sponsorship deals make up a large part of the potential money. Image rights are also in negotiations as well. Players receive more money if they own their image rights while at a club.</p>



<p>Al Nassr has previously signed some significant players to their roster. They currently have Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar, Brazil’s Luiz Gustavo, and Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina. However, potentially signing Ronaldo would obviously be a huge move by the Saudi team.</p>



<h2>Saudi club among last spots for Cristiano Ronaldo</h2>



<p>There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s next destination. Chelsea, Napoli, and Bayern Munich all have rumors circulating over potential interest in signing the star. However, massive European clubs appear to be hesitant to make a move for Ronaldo.</p>



<p>Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn recently dismissed rumors of signing Ronaldo. “We all appreciate him, there’s no discussion,” Kahn told <a href="https:\/\/sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/fc-bayern-muenchen-oliver-kahn-exklusiv-im-interview-bei-sky/12757759/34826" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sky Sports Germany</a>. “We all love Cristiano Ronaldo, but that’s something that doesn’t fit into our idea.”</p>



<p>For now, Ronaldo focuses on Portugal and the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a>. The Portuguese finish out Group H play with a match against South Korea on Friday. Ronaldo and company have already qualified for the knockout phase of the tournament.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Agenxia Mexsport</em></p>


Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr has reportedly offered Cristiano Ronaldo a contract worth over $200 million per season.

Cristiano Ronaldo offered $500 million contract from Saudi club

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