Ronaldo talk may be mischief-making, United’s problems are real enough

There’s been transfer talk concerning Cristiano Ronaldo, but is this media mischief-making or is the player himself sending a veiled message?

It was probably only a matter of time. Indeed, if there’s one thing that Manchester United’s 2022 has been a little light on, it’s been talk of Cristiano Ronaldo. Sure, he knocked that mobile phone out of that kid’s hand, but cut him some slack here; he finished last season comfortably their top goalscorer with 24 goals in all competitions (of which 18 came in the Premier League) and in third place in the Premier League Golden Boot list below only Son Heung-Min and Mohammed Salah. Considering the way in which United’s season played out – extravagant melodrama layered upon extravagant melodrama at an organisation that more resembles a soap opera than an elite-level sporting institution – that is worthy of comment.

It’s fair to continue to ask questions about how suited he might be to the tactical system than Erik ten Hag will be trying to build at Old Trafford. For the time being, they’ve offloaded a number of malfunctioning parts, but at the time of writing the much-vaunted ‘rebuild’ remains an empty space, roped off and hidden from public view behind a large sign saying, ‘COMING SOON!’. What on earth does Cristiano Ronaldo think when he steps back and surveys the view at Old Trafford? The onward trudging march of Frenkie de Jong’s signature, a transfer which feels as though, if it even does happen (and there’s still justifiable cause to believe that it might not), it will do so with a weary resignation on the part of all concerned rather than any significant joy at a brighter future on the horizon.

It was been suggested that Ronaldo even getting into any sort of conversation with another club should act as a shot across the bows. He had a good season on the pitch, but he’s a commercial goldmine, hitting every button that the club wants to hit in terms of social media engagement and commercial opportunities. Losing Cristiano Ronaldo to another club would strike at the heart of an implied homecoming narrative that’s been running since the surprise announcement of his transfer at the very end of last summer’s window. Indeed, the very fact that it seemed to catch so many by so much surprise last year may also hint at this talk being cautionary, rather than actual. If Chelsea (or whoever) and Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to keep this quiet, they could.

Some have suggested the…