Jordi Cruyff feels that the Catalans need to learn from what is happening with their eternal rivals after the attackers’ departure
Madrid have had a torrid time, with certainly more downs than ups, since their record goalscorer left, which must act as a “warning sign” for Barcelona with regards to their own talisman in the form of Lionel Messi, feels Cruyff. Ronaldo made a surprise move to Juventus at 33 years of age for a reported €100 million in July , after spending nine successful seasons with the La Liga giants.
Los Blancos have struggled to replace the goals, leadership and will to win that Ronaldo brought to the side, currently sitting eight points behind league leaders Barca, though they hold a game in hand thanks to their run to a third straight Club World Cup win. Messi has a contract with Barca till 2021, but former midfielder Cruyff was at pains when asking La Blaugrana to learn from Madrid’s mistakes.
Messi, meanwhile, has started this season in stellar form, having already scored 21 goals in just 20 games in all competitions to make a mockery of finishing fifth in the Ballon d’Or awards that came out early this month. Cruyff, a former Netherlands international, said that Ronaldo — like Messi at Barca — was holding Madrid together. “You analyse Madrid and you see that Cristiano was the man who holds the umbrella,” he said. “When it rains, nobody gets wet. Now, there is no umbrella.”
Authors take
Cryuff was right on the money when claiming that like Messi with Barca, his eternal rival Ronaldo too was the glue that held Madrid together, and that the defending La Liga champions need to start planning for life without arguably the greatest player ever if they are not to suffer the same fate as Madrid have this season.
