No-one wants Cristiano Ronaldo
Daniel Edwards
- 21 Aug 2022 14:50 CDT
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer options are looking slimmer by the minute.
This weekend Borussia Dortmund became the latest club to rule themselves pre-emptively out of the race for the wantaway Manchester United forward, who is desperate to remain in the Champions League this season.
As he moved to quash the rumours linking his club with the veteran Portuguese, moreover, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl revealed a curious phenomenon he had noticed in recent days.
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"Cristiano Ronaldo will not move to Borussia Dortmund. This is so," Kehl emphasised to Bild TV when questioned about the United man.
"The click figures were probably outstanding but we have done a few things over the past days to pin down this rumour."
Kehl went on to offer the usual platitudes over the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus ace, adding that "He is certainly a fantastic player, a world footballer."
Interestingly enough, his compliments were almost identical to that offered by Julian Nagelsmann, coach at arch-rivals Bayern Munich, when asked about the prospect of Ronaldo moving to Dortmund. But behind the required deference, Nagelsmann was withering about the links.
"He's not the youngest anymore and that means you spend a lot of money," he said.
"I think many clubs would like to have him, but 15 clubs in Germany couldn't afford his annual salary. And I don't see him earning around €500,000 per year – I simply cannot imagine it."
Why does nobody want United star?
Therein lies the crux of the dilemma for anyone considering Ronaldo. The very mention of one's club in connection with his name guarantees a media storm, while going one step further and actually signing him means you will remain the centre of attention for the duration of his stay.
What we have seen this summer though is that for the vast majority of clubs, certainly those which are well administrated and put a premium on team harmony - virtues which tend to correlate with success on the pitch and qualifying for the Champions League, with some limited exceptions - that kind of scrutiny is wholly unwelcome.
They may be prepared to tolerate it for a Ronaldo at his glorious Madrid prime, but not for a 37-year-old who is, in spite of his incredible physique and still-keen goalscoring instinct, on the downslope in his spectacular career.
Even at United, his home away from home, the club that clamoured for his return less than a year ago, no few voices are wondering whether it would not be better to end the relationship now before it becomes fully toxic - but that cannot hide the fact that even after an exhaustive summer of lobbying for Jorge Mendes not one suitable buyer has appeared.
It may be time to confront an uncomfortable truth. Ronaldo may be great for clicks but as an elite player he is no longer a big draw for Europe's top clubs, who do not want the circus and frenzy that comes hand in hand with his goals.
