Cristiano Ronaldo and Pep Guardiola would certainly seem a most unlikely partnership but the Manchester City manager could soon have the narcissistic Portuguese superstar in his squad as he targets more success, and the Champions League, this season.
One has carved out a near-immaculate career for himself by being so self-driven and perfectionistic that all managers have to make the team play to his strengths, and the other has made his career out of being so pristinely excellent that all players have to set aside their own massive egos for the good of the team.
Argentina’s Sergio Aguero was plenty taken aback when Guardiola turned up at Manchester City and told him in no uncertain terms that his predatory goalscoring wasn’t enough for him to maintain his place in the team, so you can imagine the awkward scenario if Cristiano Ronaldo were to suddenly surface at the Etihad with his five Ballon D’Ors, only to be told he needs to toe the line and learn to press like Gabriel Jesus does under the hawk-like scrutiny of the Spaniard.
If a deal were somehow to come off, it may not seem at first to be a natural fit or perfect solution by any means for both Ronaldo or City with the juxtaposing of one of the most highly individualistic players of all time – who would not be expected in any way to blend in seamlessly – with one of the most collectively-harmonized and most precise teams in world football.
Guardiola is often overlooked in the extent of his obsession with winning. The City boss is not known to pander to egotistical individuals out for self-glory as everything he does is geared precisely towards the team achieving victory in winning every single football match that they play – and it’s only fair to say that the world-renowned Spaniard has achieved almost unparalleled success in this endeavor.
Ronaldo, too, would not foolish or reckless at all in risking a scandalous move to City and incur the wrath of United supporters who had idolized him during his tenure at Old Trafford if he felt that Juventus could match his ambitions. His ego dictates that he continue to win as many trophies and popularity contests as he can, while he can still do it at his age.
Both men, while having to compromise a bit of themselves to work together, would enjoy what they got out of the relationship. Ronaldo has spent his career on a relentless mission to improve and could now be coached by one of the greatest teachers in the game, while the guarantee of goals that the 36-year-old would bring would make Guardiola purr; somebody who topped the Serie A and Euro 2020 scoring charts is hardly somebody that can be said to be slowing down.
Should the pair hit it off, they could both make progress towards getting a monkey bearing Lionel Messi’s name off of their collective backs too.
Ronaldo has constantly been put up against the former Barcelona superstar in endless debates about which of the two have achieved the most, while Guardiola – a firm Team Messi advocate – has been unable to shrug off the tedious taunts that he can’t win a Champions League without him in his side.
Making history at City, as well as earning personal satisfaction, sounds like a mighty attractive dream for Guardiola and Ronaldo to consider as transfer negotiations continue.