We knew that the end was approaching, but the feared moment still hurt football lovers. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the two best players of the last decade, who has reigned over Europe for more than fifteen years, has left the Old Continent. At 37, the Portuguese striker signed with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for an astronomical contract and a two and a half year contract. A transfer that divides the followers.
Fans between disappointment and acceptance
It is inevitably difficult to attend the end of the career of his idol. Especially after it has remained at the top for years. But what mainly emerges from the reactions of CR7 fans is this rapid decline for a player who was still brilliant last year with Manchester United (18 goals in the Premier League, 6 in the Champions League).
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But not everyone is so tough on the choice of the Portuguese striker. Even if they agree on the disappointment that this transfer represents, they accept this end of career for a player who has offered so much to his fans and who has nothing left to prove to anyone.
Misunderstanding for Neville, disappointment for Carragher
The observation is a little more severe on the side of the English consultants. Former rival of Cristiano Ronaldo, when he played at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was ironic about the end of the Portuguese career, without qualms. “It’s a sad end for himhe reacted Friday at the microphone of Sky Sports. Ronaldo ended his career with an interview with Piers Morgan as Lionel Messi just won the World Cup. It’s not the best way to leave“.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Credit: Getty Images
Ex-teammate of Ronaldo at the Red Devils, Gary Neville was more measured, despite his disappointment. “This tells us two thingshe told Sky Sports. First, that Saudi Arabia takes football seriously. They are trying to strengthen the championship. But for Cristiano, I thought he would want to stay, for the rest of this season at least, in one of the big leagues in Europe and score more goals. And potentially find a Champions League club. But there is sadness. I think we could have continued to see him at Old Trafford if both sides had handled things differently“.
An uninterested Portuguese press
Accustomed to deciphering the slightest gesture of the greatest player in the history of Portugal, the Portuguese press was particularly discreet this Saturday morning. The vast majority of Portuguese newspapers preferred to headline on the surprising defeat of Benfica in Braga (3-0) than on the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo. Worse, the top scorer in the history of the Seleçao was only entitled to a minimum of consideration in One, with a small insert on A Bola, and even less on the other Portuguese sports dailies. As if it were a lambda player. As if he was already forgotten.
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