Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, sat down with El Chiringuito and gave an interesting interview. Out of the many things CR7 said, he raised a very interesting point. Cristiano revealed that the Blaugrana tried to sign him when he was at Sporting but wanted to get him one year later. However, it was United who claimed his signature in the end.
It makes us imagine that footballing history could have been written differently if Cristiano had signed for the Catalans instead of the Red Devils. Imagine a world where he played alongside Messi, wore the Blaugrana colours and got his name chanted at the Nou Camp. Let’s talk about the possibilities if Ronaldo had signed for Barca and played with Messi.
Ronaldo & Messi as Teammates: A Different Rivalry
Football has been dominated by the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry for over a decade. Their battles in El Clasico, Ballon d’Or duels and constant push for supremacy made them reach the heights of glory in this sport. But what if they had played together at Barca? If Cristiano had signed for Barca, arguably the most significant individual rivalry in sports entertainment might never have existed.
Imagine Leo threading through balls to Ronaldo and Ronaldo returning the favour with pinpoint cutbacks. The world of football would have witnessed a new level of dominance. Their combined skills would have shaken the world and might have made Barca the sole king of Europe for more than a decade.
An Unstoppable Attacking Duo
The duo might have proven to be a nightmare for defensive units: Messi, the ultimate playmaker, and Ronaldo, the most ruthless goalscorer of this generation. We have seen Messi pairing up with elite finishers like Suarez and Neymar, but what could be achieved with Cristiano just blows my mind. Messi’s left foot, Ronaldo’s right foot, both capable of playing centrally and on the wing; how would any defence cope?
Messi’s vision and Ronaldo’s speed would have been deadly in a counter-attacking setup. Even in Guardiola’s possession-based system, Messi’s creation of spaces and Ronaldo’s elite movement in the box could have broken the goal-scoring and assist record. However, who would take penalties?
Would Barcelona Have Been the Greatest Team Ever?
If Cristiano had joined Barca, the club could have reached unprecedented dominance. Barcelona’s four Champions League titles in the Messi-Ronaldo era could have been multiplied with CR7’s presence in the squad, as he has been an important reason for Real Madrid’s European success in the past decade.
La Liga titles would have been a formality, and Barca’s golden era would have definitely lasted longer. Barca’s attacking power would have been the most feared in history. Nothing, not even Mourinho’s best defensive traps or Ancelotti’s quick transition tactics, would have worked against this “invincible” Guardiola’s Barca.
The Cons: A Financial and Tactical Nightmare
While the thought of Ronaldo in Barca besides Messi is thrilling, the reality could also have been a disaster. First, financially, Barca would have to sustain two of the highest-paid players in the world. At their peaks, their combined wages would have been astronomical. I think it’s very unlikely that Barca could have afforded quality squad depth while paying these two megastars.
Then come the tactical issues. Leo and Cristiano thrive in free roles, playing in their unique ways. The Barca manager might have added issues with risking positional discipline due to this, which would put the defensive responsibility on the rest of the squad.
Another issue would be playing second fiddle. None of these players have the mentality to play second fiddle, and if they shared the spotlight, one of them’s statistics could have been affected. This could have also led to dressing room tensions and unhappy situations.
The thought of Ronaldo playing in Barcelona is exciting, but maybe what happened was for the best. The script might not have been as interesting if Ronaldo had been in Barca or Leo in Madrid as it is now. The rivalry between clubs and players has given football heights of success, and fans will always cherish its memories.