After a shock pre-season for Real Madrid after the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos fans around the world have been left in agony. All-time top goalscorer and greatest manager gone within a few weeks of each other. To compensate Real Madrid signed Courtois from Chelsea even though Keylor Navas has led them to three UCL's out of four, got the Spain international manager fired and signed inexperienced teenagers Andriy Lunin and Vinicius JR. To add salt to the wounds Real Madrid nearly lost World Cup star Luka Modric to Inter Milan and they now have a major dilemma in the goalkeeping department.
Two weeks into their La Liga campaign and Real Madrid have twice snubbed Courtois and opted for Keylor Navas and Julen's explanation... Keylor seemed better for today's match. Modric was also on the bench for the second week in a row for the match against Girona. Have Real Madrid lost their desire to win? There once was a time when whoever Real Madrid wanted they got, however, they cannot acquire an adept replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. Is this the end to Los Blancos domination era? Has the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo signalled the end of Real Madrid as a great club and will they follow in the footsteps of legendary clubs such as AC Milan?
Have Real Madrid lost their desire to win? A question on everybody's lips at the moment. Having Navas and Courtois both in the goalkeeping department is good in theory, however, is not going to help the team as if Courtois bumps off Navas he will not be openly welcomed by his teammates for outcasting an incredible goalkeeper who has helped Los Blancos to three UCL's. After having spent money on Courtois Real Madrid will be reluctant to let him depart unless at an outstanding cost. Modric expressed his desire to leave Real Madrid even though they seem like the powerhouse of football at the moment and Marcelo also was eyeing a move to Juventus to reunite with Ronaldo. Why is it the great players are looking for exits and the team internally seems to be under pressure? As the old saying goes all good things must come to an end, in this case Real Madrid's reign of dominion ends.
Where does Cristiano fit in this? Ever since his signing Cristiano Ronaldo has been the talisman of Real Madrid. Not every club can say that they have the greatest player ever. For nine consistent years, Ronaldo has made Real Madrid the greatest club ever. Now as he nears retirement age he still managed to score 44 goals in 44 games last season and led them to the UCL final after scoring a last minute penalty against Juventus. Now without the greatest player in the world playing in the Santiago De Bernabeau only half the stadium was empty. If Real Madrid begin to start losing silverware without Ronaldo then they will lose sponsors, fans and players which will lead to less money for them and limit the amount of money they can spend on big names such as Hazard, Neymar and Mbappe. This 'Ronaldo effect' is becoming quite apparent of Florentino Perez hasn't bought any big names since James Rodriguez back in 2014.
Needless to say fans and players alike are feeling the Ronaldo effect in its full force and are not liking the consequences.
Thanks for reading and please leave an upvote:).
Angus Mclaughlin