We haven't seen so many high-profile moves in a month in a long time, but in the summer 2021 transfer window, the two modern best players of this game, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, joined the new club. Ronaldo made a sensational return to his old club Manchester United after three seasons at Juventus, while Messi left Barcelona as a free agent after new contract negotiations broke down, signing with Paris Saint-Germain less than a week later.
So far, however, both stars have found that grass isn't always greener when major changes occur. Ronaldo has been fantastic as a Manchester United player (9 goals in 12 appearances), but the club has been in bad shape, having won just one Premier League win since mid-September. Meanwhile, Messi and Paris Saint-Germain have already led by 10 points in Ligue 1 and are on their way to the Round of 16 in the Champions League (Messi scored 3 goals), but the Argentine star has yet to score in the league (5 appearances) and has suffered several setbacks along the way with minor injuries.
[Ronaldo] and Julian Lawrence (Messi), who already have more than a third of the European club seasons on the record, have looked at how the two superstars are at the new club.
The season has | so far What works/doesn't work | The right move?
Messi's start at Paris Saint-Germain was both brilliant and frustrating. While he has contributed to their Champions League, he has yet to really stand up against his opponents in Ligue 1.
Ronaldo: Two goals on his debut in the 4-1 win over Newcastle gave Ronaldo a fantastic start to United's second game. Although the team's results have been erratic since Ronaldo's return – 5 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws – his personal contributions are barely significant, having scored nine goals, some of which proved to be key late-stage winners or scoring guards.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Ronaldo at the same time as the 1-1 draw with young boys, and then The Swiss scored a late winning goal, while the manager also put him on the bench in the home draw with Everton.
But in terms of highs and lows, Ronaldo has contributed to his team time and time again. The only low was the team's poor results, which left Solskjaer to fight for his job. Without Ronaldo's contribution, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might not have lived so long.
Messi: So far, Messi in Paris is the story of a glass that is half full of half-empty. If you look at it from the perspective of Ligue 1, it is the latter: 5 games, 349 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists, 15 shots on goal (4 shots on goal), 1.47 expected goals, 1 big chance creation, 3 shots, 1.6 successful dribbles per game. There is a feeling that he is still adapting to his team and Ligue 1, which is much stronger than the physical qualities of La Liga.
If you consider his arrival in the context of the Champions League, it is a half-full: 3 games, 289 minutes, 3 goals (wonderful counter-attack against Manchester City (2-0) and victory against RB Leipzig (3-2) with delightful Paneca), expected goals 2.40, 9 shots on goal (5 shots on goal), average 3.7 successful dribbles per game. Messi's knowledge of the Champions League is enough to explain his struggles at home, with the team facing Paris Saint-Germain usually a tight low-post block.
Ronaldo: There are two very different views of Ronaldo at Manchester United. The first is that his incredible scoring record makes the tactical problems that his presence in the team can cause worthwhile, such as his limited defensive contributions and being selfish once he sees the goal. Ronaldo is usually always delivered, so you use a smooth roughness.
Another view is that Ronaldo upset the balance of the team and without him, United can arguably be a stronger team with goals spread more evenly across the team. When Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandez and Paul Pogba play together, it's also a reality that Solskjaer has been trying to devise a formula to make his team strong enough defensively.
By trying to accommodate all three players, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer often left his defence exposed. Moreover, Pogba's bright start to the season came to a halt once Ronaldo arrived, and Fernandez, as happened in Portugal, was not as influential as Ronaldo was before he returned to Manchester United.
Since his return last summer, Ronaldo has been keen and has scored many goals for United, although his goals have not been enough to stop the team from being tepid.
ESPN reported in early October that Ronaldo had urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to find a way to pass the ball to him faster in the attacking zone, and sources also said the lack of understanding between Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood was worrying, even though the youngster had created a crucial late equaliser against Atalanta at the age of 36 in midweek.
In fact, so far, Cristiano Ronaldo has been both positive and negative for Manchester United, but the positive side is far greater than the negative side. Yes, there are tactical issues to solve, but that's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's job – not his most famous player. Ronaldo just did what he signed, scored goals and made a decisive contribution in big games. Sources said his sheer professionalism and rising aspirations had begun to seep into the squad, and despite his star status, he remained a modest character on the training ground.
Messi: As remarkable as an Argentine, he always needs time to adjust to the biggest change in his life since he was 13. At that time, he went from Rosario to Barcelona. This time, the journey from Catalonia to the French capital is much shorter, but still a very different life. Even Paris was heavier than Barcelona, even to the amazement of the Messi family!
On the pitch, it's a new team with a new manager (Mauricio Pochettino) who himself is still looking for the right tactics and the right way to bring together all the star power of Paris Saint-Germain. After moving from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018, it took him four league games and more than 20 shots on goal to finally find a goal for Juventus.
For Messi, it also takes time. He was always at his best when he played more focused behind Kylian Mbappe, rather than being stuck on the right wing next to the sideline, where he no longer had the energy or pace to influence the game far from the goal. Messi needs to be involved, and for that, the center forward is much better for him. Even in Ligue 1, when he played more in the middle he became more dangerous.
It can also help the team tremendously when it comes to beating the opponent's media. Obviously, his shortcomings on the defensive end were also noted, and the team still needs to find the right balance in the defensive transition.
Messi was also hampered by lingering minor injuries that hampered his adaptation. He has missed paris Saint-Germain's half-time league this season and has not played in the Champions League and Ligue 1 against Leipzig and Bordeaux respectively.
Julian Lawrence broke down where he wanted to see Messi play and explained why he hadn't scored in Ligue 1 yet.
Ronaldo: Will the Portuguese superstar be more popular at Manchester City? He will certainly score a lot this season and are more likely to win an important trophy, but Manchester United are his DNA and it would be an awkward match if he wore a blue shirt instead of a red shirt.
The truth is, Manchester United are not up to the level of Manchester City and they need a talisman that Guardiola's side doesn't need, which is why United are perfect for him. Ronaldo wants to be the focus of attention and the players who let it all happen. He also wants to be a hero and he has played this role for Manchester United many times.
As a Manchester City player he could have been more successful, but there is a feeling that his second season at Manchester United will prove more valuable on an individual level than what he can achieve at Etihad. It just depends on whether Ronaldo ultimately wants to judge it by trophy or something harder to quantify.
Messi: Simply put, it's Messi's only option. From the moment Barcelona informed him they couldn't keep him, Paris Saint-Germain was the only viable new destination. However, it does fit exactly what the six-time Ballon d'Or winner wants: a club that can pay him a huge salary, a very strong team that, after winning the titles in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015, he can win the Champions League again with Barca, a place where he can play with friends and former teammates (Leandro Paredes, Neymar, Angel Di Maria), a place where the manager will understand him (Pochettino), A city where his family would be happy, a Messi brand club could continue to grow.
Paris and Messi are a great match on paper. After a tough start, both sides have a responsibility to make it work and optimize this incredible opportunity.
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