‘The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.’
When Robert Frost wrote that line, he definitely did not think about Cristiano Ronaldo or football. But as reality is stranger than truth, this line has become true for Ronaldo.
Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, his time to say goodbye to being the spearhead of a team has come, something he did not think about even a year earlier.
When the Portuguese arrived in Manchester last year, he was brought in as an undisputed starter. Anything else for that salary would have been ludicrous.
Fast forward a year or so, Ronaldo has played just over 200 minutes in six matches, starting just one, Manchester United’s 4-0 thrashing to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Since then, he has been reduced to the bench. Against Liverpool, he was brought on with only two minutes to go after Anthony Martial, who had just returned from injury.
That was probably the clearest sign from Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag that he didn’t think of Ronaldo as one of his first-choice 15 players, despite saying different things in the media.
But it’s not just about Ten Hag and the defenders. Ronaldo has lost almost all of his pace, and he doesn’t press well. So the second thing later, the first thing comes first.
Against Southampton, playing as a substitute was repeatedly outrun by the defenders, even in cases where the Portuguese had an advantage. He also seemed to miss obvious passes, and his link-up play, which has never been his best trait, has continuously worsened.
His lack of pressing is another reason modern managers seemingly don’t want him, and Ten Hag is not the only example. New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was desperate to get Ronaldo, but Tuchel denied the opportunity (which was one of the reasons why the German got the sack).
All-in-all, Ronaldo has become an expensive luxury that no one wants to afford, and very few can afford. And thus, this might be the time for Ronaldo and his fanbase to accept that his time has come.
Ronaldo, who has been one of the dominating forces of European football for the last two decades, will not be the one to look out for in the starting XI anymore.
And the greatest occasion might be Thursday, because this is the day when for the first time in his 20-year-old career, Ronaldo will be playing in the UEFA Europa League. Two days earlier, the UEFA Champions League started without its greatest goal-scorer.
He still might be back to Europe’s elite tournament as with Tuchel gone, Boehly is likely to bring in Ronaldo in January. But that’s a few ifs and buts put together.
Ronaldo has had a career people don’t even dream of because it sometimes seems too ridiculous to be true.
But he has lived that. And after 20 magical years at the very top of the global game, it’s time to say goodbye to believing that he is still the player he was five years ago.
Time always takes its toll. Ronaldo must pay it too, and desperate attempts to deny it will only ridicule what has been one remarkable journey.
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