Football: in disgrace at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo swims in uncertainty

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, October 9, 2022 at Goodison Park before the Everton-Manchester United meeting.

AP - Jon Super

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

5 mins

Substitute at Manchester United, club he sought to leave during the summer, Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded from the group which faced Chelsea because of a misconduct.

Never had the Portuguese gone through such a complicated moment in his career.

Before the 2022 World Cup, he is in the trough.

Advertising

Read more

He is the

according to Fifa, he has won the Champions League five times, he holds the record for the number of international goals - 117 with Portugal - as well as the record for the number of goals in the Champions League – 140 – and with Real Madrid – 450 goals –.

His track record is endless, his notoriety is immense and his incredible career makes him one of the best footballers of all time.

And yet, powerful as he is, Cristiano Ronaldo has been in trouble for a while.

At the end of the summer of 2021, after a half-fig half-grape stint of three seasons at Juventus, the Portuguese returned to the club where he rose to the top, between 2003 and 2009: Manchester United.

Twelve years after his departure, he became a Red Devil again and set himself the goal of restoring the Mancunian image.

A little over a year later, the facts are implacable: Cristiano Ronaldo, despite honorable statistics last season (39 matches, 24 goals, 3 assists), missed his comeback.

Manchester United are still limping.

And today, he himself is completely ostracized from the Mancunian institution.

Erik ten Hag made him a mere substitute

The 2021-2022 financial year was painful for MU, with zero titles and a pitiful 6th place in the Premier League, synonymous with non-qualification for the Champions League.

A real problem for "CR7", very attached to this competition and who had not missed an edition since that of 2002-2003, when he began his career at Sporting Portugal.

At 37, Cristiano Ronaldo did not want to live a season without C1.

So, during the summer transfer window, he looked for a way out to a qualified club for the 2022-2023 edition.

With more or less seriousness, leads have emerged: Bayern Munich, Naples, PSG, Real Madrid, Sporting Portugal,

... None have succeeded.

A little constrained, the striker resigned himself to continuing with Manchester United.

But at the club, there have been changes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then interim Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick, gave way to Erik ten Hag as coach.

And the Dutchman does not seem to have the esteem of all the Portuguese's previous coaches for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Even if he claims to count on him, in his plans, the fivefold Ballon d'Or does not hold.

Since the start of the season, the international has only played 12 matches, including two as a starter.

His average playing time is less than 60 minutes per game.

In the Premier League, he played only four minutes against Liverpool (2-1 victory), 32 minutes against Arsenal (3-1 victory) and did not even appear on the field during the

.

And even when he plays, Cristiano Ronaldo does not shine: a single assist in eight league games, and a goal and an assist in four Europa League games.

Figures unworthy of a player accustomed to playing all matches for almost 20 years and panicking the statistics.

In recent weeks, the Portuguese is only a shadow of himself.

The malaise, palpable, materialized for good a few days ago.

What will he decide after his fifth World Cup?

Wednesday, October 19, during the match won against Tottenham in the Premier League (2-0), Cristiano Ronaldo committed two misconducts.

Substitute, he refused to come into play when Erik ten Hag asked him to.

Then, the n°7 left the Old Trafford stadium before the final whistle.

At the end of July, Ronaldo had already packed up before the end of a friendly match against Rayo Vallecano.

Ten Hag had very little appreciated.

This time, the manager announced that there would be " 

 ".

Of which note: Friday, October 20, Cristiano Ronaldo was excluded from the Manchester United group which faced Chelsea on Saturday (1-1).

Since then, the Portuguese has made amends on social media and assured that he is still 100% with the Red Devils, ready to contribute to the project.

But the latest events and the tactical choices of Ten Hag, who prefers to align Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Brazilian rookie Antony in attack, draw the outlines of an imminent divorce between MU and "CR7".

Unthinkable at one time, but more than likely today.

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

If he doesn't return to everyone's good graces in Manchester, the winter transfer window may be Cristiano Ronaldo's salvation.

Before that, the captain of the Portuguese Seleçao must play his fifth

.

In what form will it be?

Physically, the native of Madeira Island has always made sure to stay on top.

But the lack of matches and pace could hurt him.

For his probable last World Cup, he will not arrive in the best conditions.

After the Qatari meeting, the question of his future will arise concretely.

Between his salary, the season started halfway and the staff already in place, Cristiano Ronaldo may not have many first-choice destinations in the European elite.

Like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and others before him, he could answer the call of Major League Soccer, the North American championship.

But would such a destination be attractive enough for

with Portugal and play beyond the age of 40?

The near future of Ronaldo seems very vague.

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Sports

• Soccer

• Portugal

• UK

• World Cup 2022