Real Madrid and the complicated life after Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane | Bleacher's report



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  KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 26: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane kisses Cristiano Ronaldo after the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo: Chris Brunskill Ltd. / Getty Images)

Chris Brunskill Ltd. / Getty Images

The world of Real Madrid was upset this summer with the departure of manager Zinedine Zidane and star player Cristiano Ronaldo. Not since the iconic Alfredo Di Stefano – a man who scored in each of the five consecutive European Cup final wins of the club – was moved by the back door in 1964 did they experience as much of troubles with their team.

which led the club to its third UEFA Champions League title on the rebound in May-would leave. It seems that he did not have the stomach to renovate an aging team that waded domestic last season, finishing 17 points drifting off Barcelona in the race for La Liga.

Of the team that faced Liverpool in Kiev, Ukraine, five of his key players – the disruptive Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Ronaldo and his big foil, Karim Benzema – are all on the wrong side of 30.

"I have the feeling that Zidane left because he was compromised by the players whose club wanted to get rid of," said Juanma Trueba, a Spanish football writer based in Madrid . "Zidane preferred to be loyal to players like Cristiano and Keylor Navas, we do not know if Benzema will continue at the club, they will sign Mauro Icardi"

"Zidane thought he owed them were the only ones who made him a champion.With the likely signing of Thibaut Courtois at goal – and other players – the team next season will not be similar to Zidane's Real Madrid. "Zidane said that he would not continue because he was not happy with this revision of the team. "

Ronaldo followed him shortly thereafter and went to Juventus in the 15 days after his return from the finals of the FIFA World Cup

Ronaldo still had an icy relationship with Real Madrid.The president of the club, Florentino Perez, who nearly made the decision to sign it to Summer 2009 because the player was an heir to Perez's predecessor, Ramon Calderon [19659010] Florentino Perez had an icy relationship with Ronaldo “/>

Florentino Perez had an icy relationship with Ronaldo Hassan Ammar / Associated Press

"The departure of Cristiano was not a surprise," says Manu Sainz, journalist at Diario AS . knew the possibilities for him to go as far as 2013. He has never had a good relationship with Florentino. Until now, their problems have always been solved with money – Cristiano says "I'm leaving"; Florentino paid him more to stay. This time, Cristiano was tired of the situation. He did not want to stay in Madrid for more money, so he decided to go slamming the door in Florentino 's face. "

Real Madrid has offered Ronaldo an improved contract to stay in. It seems however stranger than a player who has scored 451 goals in nine seasons and who has brought the club to four titles in the world. UEFA Champions League, for example, by scoring five goals in the quarterfinal against Bayern.Morton in 2017, is not loved by Madridistas.

It was remarkable, says Trueba, that during the recent presentation of the Real Madrid Alvaro Odriozola, signed Real Sociedad for 40 million euros, and the Brazilian starlet, Vinicius Jr., The name of Ronaldo at Santiago Bernabeu stadium has not been sung, even the name of Mesut Ozil, which is a footnote in the history of the club, was chanted by the fans at the presentation of Gareth Bale in 2013 by the Dec Ision will unload Ozil this summer at Arsenal

As a business , Real Madrid made a profit on Ronaldo.A player in the autumn of his career has been sold for more than the club paid for him in 2009.

Sainz calls into question the wisdom of the decision, however, signaling the loss of the brand value of Real Madrid by separating from the most famous sportsman on the planet, according to social media followers. How will the club fill its empty goal? Will he come back to haunt them?

"It depends on what Cristiano does to Juve," says Trueba. "If he scores 50 goals per season, each goal will be a dagger at the heart of Real Madrid, knowing that Florentino would not allow Cristiano to leave unless he can get another star like Neymar or Kylian Mbappe. Courtois, Eden Hazard and Vinicius, that will not be enough, Florentino will not be happy with the pickings – he will have a card in his sleeve. "

Perez told fans of Real Madrid to expect to" gorgeous " additions to the team this summer. The promise that he will revive the galactic philosophy that is dormant since 2014, when the club signed James Rodriguez after Colombian heroism at the finals of the FIFA World Cup this summer, is enticing . He has been synonymous with his position as club president since he's introduced to the world of football by hiring Luis Figo from Barcelona in 2000.

"When Florentino became president, nobody knew who he was, "says Sainz. "He needed to generate a big bang, so he linked himself to an important signature: Figid Zidane and others followed, then he became president for the second time in 2009, he signed Kaka , Benzema and Cristiano After winning the Champions League trophies, he saw his image grow with the sporting success of the club. Until now.

"He went crazy about Neymar. He was able to persuade the big stars – like Zidane, Beckham, Basel, Kaka – to join Real Madrid, but it seems his strategy to convince them no longer works. I do not know why, but they do not fight with their clubs to join Real Madrid

"Neymar had an agreement for a few months [to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid] but he changed his mind and said" No "to Mbappe would not come the year before the arrival of Paul Pogba – he went to Manchester United, one would think that Neymar would be crazy to go to Real Madrid, but Neymar will not come. "

Sainz says it will be" impossible "for Real Madrid to sign either Neymar Jr. or Mbappe this summer. Trueba believes, however, that with some time before the closing of the transfer market, Perez could still make a big transfer. However, the arrival of Neymar could be a mixed blessing

"I believe that Neymar is a luxury," says Trueba. "It's as if all the big holidays were doing a bit of a hangover, that it was messy, that he was fighting, that Romario, who was also excellent, was doing the same." Real Madrid fans know that Neymar could destabilize., But he would be a key player ripped off in Barcelona, ​​after Messi and Cristiano, he is the best in the world, he would be welcomed with open arms, the stadium would be full to greet him [19659026] Neymar is seen by some as the natural successor to Ronaldo “/>

Neymar is considered by some to be the natural successor of Ronaldo Francisco Seco / Associated Press / Associated Press

"This is the only option Florentino has It will be a long process – Cristiano leaves, Neymar comes in. These statements by Neymar saying, "I'm staying at Paris Saint-Germain, how many times have we seen this theater?" "I'm leaving." They do not like me. I would not want to neglect Real Madrid signing him. I would be more surprised if they do not do it. "

Meanwhile, Bale, who joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer right to take control of Ronaldo, took center stage and scored some immortalizing goals – including a Bicycling in the final Champions League win against Liverpool in May – which shows his potential.

"Bale is obviously a gifted football player," says John Carlin, author of Real Madrid's book, White Angels . "In terms of talent, he probably has as broad a repertoire as Cristiano Ronaldo. He is awesome in the air. He has a fantastic shot. He is immensely powerful and strong. The difference so far has been the ferocious lust of Ronaldo. This crazy desire to prove himself the best in the world, to win all those Golden Balls, something almost pathological that gives him an incredible advantage.

"Bale's biggest criticism is his seemingly lethargic attitude – that he does not do" We saw Bale operate at his peak once every 10 matches. It was a function of the world. to be in the shadow of Ronaldo? Now, Ronaldo is gone, the spotlight is on Basel. Is it what it takes?

Real Madrid also unveiled Vinicius Jr, an exciting young striker bought in Flamengo for 45 million euros. He was 18 years earlier in July. His prodigious career in the biggest club in the world could be done in two ways. His compatriot Gabriel Jesus, for example, is well assimilated to Manchester City. But a young player like Martin Odegaard offers an edifying story. The Norwegian was signed as a 16 year old in 2015 to a lot of fanfare. However, he struggled to impose on the club and spent the last season and a half on loan with Heerenveen, the Dutch midfielder.

"I lived inside Real Madrid after Robinho's signing in 2005," says Carlin. "I was there every day talking to Florentino Perez, they were passionate about Robinho, the heir to Pelé, that 's how they sold him. in Brazil, that's how Real Madrid chose to see him.

"In his first match for Real Madrid, he was sensational. Everyone was so excited. He was "definitely" to be the next Pele. But that's the thing about Brazil. It's a kind of dream machine. Brazil is forever feeding the 1970 national team and you are still waiting for the next star. Neymar is very pale. He is now 26 years old. Did Neymar really live in fashion? I do not think he's done it. At the time Messi was 26, he had won four Golden Balloons. "

Messi and a Barcelona club looking to retain his league title await Real Madrid next season in Spain. Atletico Madrid has replenished Thomas Lemar in their ranks, and they have managed to retain the services of Antoine Griezmann, the new manager of Real Madrid, Julen Lopetegui, who enters the race under the thunder after his dismissal as coach of Spain on the eve of the World Cup. "Lopetegui has a very difficult job," says Sainz, "it's very complicated for the club after losing Zidane and now Cristiano, two great leaders. One thing that Lopetegui has in his favor is his relationship with the Spanish players: Ramos, Isco, Lucas Vazquez. They will help him. He did a good job with the Spanish team. He had 20 games without defeat

"The problem is how he will adapt without Ronaldo, with all the goals that he has scored, it will be a year of transition, he still has to good players. " Modric, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Bale, but it will be very complicated for Real Madrid to win a fourth consecutive Champions League.The other teams in Spain and Europe will be stronger than last season. is not a favorite, but he is a candidate to win titles.I have a lot of doubts. "

Follow Richard on Twitter: @Richard_Fitz

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