Both have succeeded without each other, but they’ve struggled to do just about anything in the Champions League since they parted ways.
Ronaldo and Real are straggling
Sometimes breakups look bad for both sides from the first minute, and that’s what can be said about the split between Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid in 2018. Both have succeeded without each other, but they’ve struggled to do just about anything in the Champions League since they parted ways. Cristiano found a new home in Turin, where he landed in search of new trophies and challenges. Since arriving, he has won Serie A twice and Supercoppa Italiana. But he has yet to get his hands on Coppa Italia, and he hasn’t thrived in Europe with Juventus. Juve fell short in the quarterfinals of Coppa Italia and the Champions League last season while losing their domestic cup final on penalties this season and not even making their way to the last eight in Europe.
Although Real haven’t fared much better, Los Blancos have fallen at the last-16 stage in the last two UEFA Champions League at the hands of Ajax in 2018/19 and Manchester City this season. They haven’t had such a bad run in the Champions League since 2004/05 and 2005/06, while Cristiano hasn’t even gone two years before reaching at least the semi-finals in a decade. It is clear that both Real and Cristiano Ronaldo are fighting without each other, and it isn’t easy to see what the solution is. France Football reported that the Portuguese were considering joining Paris Saint-Germain. But it is unclear if they will allow him to rediscover success at the European level. Real Madrid, meanwhile, are left wanting their great goalscorer.