Real Madrid: 3 players who would benefit most from a Cristiano Ronaldo transfer

LW Vinicius Junior

Whereas Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema are experienced Real Madrid superstars who have won trophies with Cristiano Ronaldo in the past and would benefit greatly on the stat sheet from a reunion with the Portuguese sensation, Vinicius Junior has never worked with Ronaldo. He won’t even benefit on that stat sheet from a Ronaldo transfer, because he would, in all likelihood, lose minutes on the left-hand side.

But he could benefit in a different way. Vinicius is an incredible person. He responds well to pressure, takes accountability to his teammates when he messes up, and works as hard as anyone to improve his weaknesses. Vinicius is a sponge who absorbs every bit of advice from Zinedine Zidane and the stars currently in the XI.

So imagine how much Vinicius would benefit from being on the same team as Ronaldo, getting to see how one of the greatest of all-time works and approaches the game. Playing the same position and expected to take on a similar role to Ronaldo eventually, Vinicius would get to learn as the No. 7’s understudy, picking up all the tips to finishing, training, and movement off the ball that you can only get from studying a true legend of the craft.

Vinicius has all the tools. He is a great ball-carrier, works harder than most wingers on the pitch, and has great skill to beat multiple defenders at once in the box. But he is missing a killer instinct and a trust in himself in front of goal. He can improve his technique with his final ball and his approach to scoring by working with Ronaldo. The No. 7 himself is nearing the end of his career, so I’d imagine he would have a vested interest in passing on the torch and a part of his legacy to a future superstar at the club his footballing legacy will always be synonymous with.