The discussion over Cristiano Ronaldo will rage on, but it may come to a close sooner than most people imagine.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on February 4, 2022.
In the summer, Ronaldo may desire to depart United.
Ralf Rangnick has had a strange few months at Manchester United, with problem after problem seeming to keep springing up for him.
The current state of affairs at United appears to be deteriorating by the day, and it's difficult to imagine Rangnick solving all of the issues in the four months he has left as manager.
Unfortunately, it appears that another issue is arising, which has resulted in a significant rift among United supporters.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the problem.
The 37-year-summer old's transfer deadline day move feels like it happened a long time ago, and many United fans may argue that it was the most spectacular deal in the club's history. Fans were ecstatic, as if they had just won a championship.
His campaign got off to a great start as well. Expectations were high for the rest of the season after Ronaldo scored two goals on a perfect comeback against Newcastle, and many people believed United would fight for the title with him in the club. However, as we've seen, this hasn't been the case.
He has 14 goals this season in all competitions, but hasn't scored since United's 3-1 win against Burnley in December.
His recent performances have sparked a tremendous divide. On the one hand, United fans want to stick with Ronaldo because he is a United legend and one of the best strikers of all time. If you give him an opportunity, he'll take it.
Some fans, on the other hand, believe that Ronaldo does not fit United's system and, as a result, holds other players behind because the club must cater to his requirements.
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo in action during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Middlesbrough at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on February 4, 2022.
Ronaldo missed a penalty against Middlesbrough (Manchester United via Getty Images/Ash Donelon). )
Both must be taken into consideration. Ronaldo isn't the problem, but he's also not the answer. The problem is that if Rangnick decides to bench him, the entire world will be watching, particularly if United loses a game without him. The fact that the team is now lopsided doesn't help matters either.
People have also forgotten that without Ronaldo, United would not be in the UEFA Champions League right now. He single-handedly got his team to the knockout stages with his six goals, and he's still a goalscoring machine.
Of course, because he didn't play well against Middlesbrough, the argument erupted, but he can still clearly produce at a high level. He's just going through a hard time right now.
At the same time, I don't think he fits Rangnick, and given that both Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag prefer younger players, he's unlikely to fit any of them.
It's why there's a real chance Ronaldo will leave United this summer, and only history can explain why.
Every time Ronaldo has left a team, he has done so on his own own, not at the request of the teams. He decided to leave United because he wanted to join Real Madrid. He was unsatisfied and in search of a fresh challenge when he left Madrid. He left Juventus because he wanted to be loved somewhere else.
While Ronaldo is aware that most United fans like him, he will not stay in a location where he feels unloved. When that happens, it's game over, as his history demonstrates. His feuds with Jose Mourinho, Massimiliano Allegri, and Maurizio Sarri are just a few instances.
Between now and the conclusion of the season, a lot can happen, and no one should count out Cristiano Ronaldo, but given the fan base's division, United's managerial targets' attitude, and their preference for younger players, who knows what the future holds for him at Old Trafford.
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