Why Cristiano Ronaldo could be Florentino Perez’s Kylian Mbappe contingency plan
By Umid Dey
The season isn’t over still and yet, we find ourselves talking about which players to sign and which players to let go. Such, perhaps, is the way of life; we are never truly in the present despite it being the only truth.
Right now, Los Blancos are on their way to winning the league. On top of that, they face Manchester City in the semi-final of the Champions League. At the beginning of this season, being at this point would have been deemed as overachievement.
But now, the obligation is to win it all. LaLiga is almost secured and only three games stand between the Galacticos and European glory.
Yet, the fans don’t seem to be too concerned about any of it. The main talk of the town has been–and will be–Kylian Mbappe, a player who has nothing left to achieve between now and the end of the season.
The Frenchman has been followed by the Merengues for over four years now and this (soap) opera is expected to reach its crescendo this summer. There can only be one winner: either Paris Saint-Germain successfully convinces Mbappe to sign an extension or Real Madrid finally get their most coveted transfer target.
As fans, we can only pray for the best. But as president, Florentino Perez should be prepared for the worst. For about three years now, the pressure on him to deliver Mbappe has just kept increasing exponentially.
Mbappe might not come, after all
With a big grin on his face, PSG director Leonardo claimed: “In Madrid, they’re sure since three years that Kylian Mbappé will end up at Real Madrid… maybe they’re too sure about that?”
Reading between the lines, Leonardo seems somewhat confident about being able to convince the World Cup winner to prolong his stay with the French champions. If he is able to convince Mbappe, then Florentino Perez has a problem.
And this time, there is no going back to wait for another to solve the issue. This time, in this window, he has to act, he has to do something to shield himself from the discontent of the fans.
Enter Cristiano Ronaldo.
I understand that signing the Portuguese might sound like an intergalactic idea. After all, Perez was the same man who refused to budge to the former Juventus star’s demands, allowing him to leave in 2018.
However, time changes everything. And right now, with the majority of Madridistas expecting at least one superstar, ‘galactic’ signing, Ronaldo might be used as the soothing pill on the ailing hearts of Madridistas.
But this is not about Real Madrid or its sporting project, this is about Florentino Perez trying to save face–and history has shown how far he can go to save his image.
Bringing Ronaldo also has some benefits: Madrid gets a player who can contribute 20 to 30 goals while also further mentoring Vinicius Junior. The media uproar will also generate lots of buzz, which can be easily converted to the big ol’ dollar signs for the Galacticos.
And–this is the most important thing–the fans, out of nostalgia and the legend of the Portuguese Euro winner, will momentarily forget about Kylian Mbappe.
Next. Positions Real Madrid should strengthen this summer. dark
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Which is the ultimate goal of Florentino Perez in case of failure.
The season has not yet been concluded but there is a sense of melancholy among Madridistas due to the recent developments in the Mbappe saga.
As Madridistas, it seems as though we are more focused on signing superstars than actually winning trophies. Or perhaps, it is just everything–we want everything.
And bringing Ronaldo might be enough ‘everything’ for this summer.