The Devil’s Diary: What it looks like when the formerly best player in the world can’t do it anymore. Ronaldo used the most pathetic weapon he could

While Lionel Messi has been putting in some amazing performances on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo has only been stalling Manchester United’s progress most of the time. A lot of frustration has been visible on him for quite some time now, but no one could have imagined that he would stoop to such an abomination. Not even his teammates, who have been taken out of breath by it.

On Sunday night, Manchester United players went home in high spirits after managing to snatch three points at the last minute against Fulham. And according to Sky Sports, it was on this trip that they recorded Ronaldo’s interview, which soon went viral.

The Daily Mail on Monday came up with a report that confirmed that it was a shock even for the Red Devils players themselves, as they couldn’t understand this feat of their teammate at all and on the contrary, they felt a huge disappointment.

From a once best footballer in the world and a man with a big heart, who gave away a good portion of his earnings to the needy during his career, it was indeed a sad act, but one that speaks volumes about his current state.

That being said, the Argentine magician, who is currently at PSG, is still in excellent form at 35. While Ronaldo will be 38 in February and his era seems to be definitely over. Which top team would take a player whose glory days are long past and, moreover, who is not shy of criticising his own club in this way?

If he did it with Juventus, one could still understand a little, but to criticize the club that played no small part in his footballing education and got him to the top? That has to hurt many people at Old Trafford and it’s no wonder the club took time to think before making an official statement.

The whole thing looks more like Ronaldo trying to use his fame to draw attention to himself and justify to himself that he simply and simply doesn’t have it in him anymore.

Recently, a very apt comment was made by Erling Haaland by Spanish coach Pep Guardiola, who let it be known that the Norwegian hitman is great, but Messi is in a different league altogether, as Haaland needs other teammates to work for him to succeed, while the Argentine magician can do everything on his own.

That’s an exaggeration, of course, but there’s a lot of truth to it. But how does it apply to Ronaldo? The Portuguese striker is very similar to Haaland. He, too, has had to be worked hard by an entire team and his career has been sacrificed not only by Karim Benzema.

Personally, I was one of those who wanted Ronaldo to be the best footballer of all time, despite his many mannerisms. However, as the time draws ever nearer when the Messi-Ronaldo duo will hang up their cleats, I am beginning to lean towards the side of the seven Ballon d’Or winner.

For Ronaldo has used the most pathetic weapon possible in the world of sport – he has harshly criticised his own team, which he has been destroying with his behaviour for some time, now he has merely finished them off. Even if perhaps everything he says is true, as it’s a bit ridiculous after the way he was treated at Real Madrid and the comments he made after leaving Juventus, a professional sportsman of this magnitude should never stoop to this.

The idea of him returning to training and going up against one of the former stormtroopers like Gennaro Gattuso, Roy Keane or Carles Puyol is somewhat unthinkable, just as he would have done to Sir Alex Ferguson.

It will certainly now be interesting to see how the club approach this. After all, it is a huge amount of money that Manchester United are paying Ronaldo, but too much is too much!

Source: Sky Sports, Daily Mail