The divorce between Real Madrid and Cristiano is very expensive

Two sad summers ago, Real Madrid and Cristiano decided to separate their paths. The serious differences between the Portuguese crack and the president of the club (fine from the Treasury, request to improve the contract, personal distancing, etc.) made a friendly solution that would have allowed them to continue together unfeasible. If at that time both parties had had a crystal ball to envision how the two would fare in the Champions League, they would surely have rectified and reached a cordial agreement that would have continued to give benefits to both the club and the Portuguese player himself.

From the 2010-11 to 2017-18 season, Cristiano's last at the Bernabéu, both sides accumulated four Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018), as well as four semi-finals (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015). The whites did not drop from semis …

However, the last two courses have been a “European” failure for Madrid and for Cristiano, in equal parts. The team coached by Solari fell in the second round, against Ajax, last season (1-4 at the Bernabéu), while in this the European talisman of Zidane could not avoid falling in the same and premature round (this time against City Guardiola).

Madrid did not fall twice in a row in the second round since 2010 to back. Pellegrini was thrown by Olympique de Lyon, Schuster by Roma, Capello by Bayern Munich, López Caro by Arsenal … When Florentino signed Mourinho he said it was to end that bleeding of not passing the eighth in the Champions League. Yes, Setúbal's technician only partially fixed the hole. He raised the team to the semifinals, but for three consecutive years he failed to get Madrid into the final. Now the Madridismo would be given with a song in the teeth if at least the team had rowed until the penultimate round.

Cristiano has not done much better in Europe since he signed the divorce papers with what, without a doubt, has been the great club of his spectacular professional career. In Madrid he won four titles and was the competition's top scorer six times, setting the historic record of 17 goals in a single edition (2013-14). In addition, he added four Ballon d'Or conquered during his white stage.

An achievement far removed now for Cristiano, who in his two years at Juventus has seen how he was dropped from the Champions League in the quarterfinals (last season against Ajax), and in the second round (in this edition, consuming last Friday against Olympique despite the Portuguese double, which was not enough to overcome the 1-0 in the first leg in Lyon).

The conclusion is simple: both Real Madrid and Cristiano have weakened from the moment they decided to travel alone. Europe is what gives you prestige, as a club and as a player. And both have gone from scoring very high grades for eight wonderful years (2010-18) to accumulating two failures in a row. Damn the hour …

Cristiano Ronaldo does not arrive and his numbers suffer

Since he left Cristiano Ronaldo does not find himself in Europe. In his first campaign, just one goal in the group stage and a second half of the competition where he achieved a historic hat-trick comeback against Atlético (2-0 in the Metropolitano, 3-0 in Turin). Then, against Ajax, a failed attempt to finish the tie that ended up winning De Ligt, now his partner in the rear.

This season, more of the same. He scored all the goals in the knockout stages but they were unable to beat Olympique Lyonnais. After falling in love In the semifinals of the Italian team (that ovation to his long-awaited goal from the Chilean team), now he is unable to reach the final and even reach the gates.

In addition, his goal suffers. The one who was the top scorer of the tournament during his time in Madrid always surpassed five goals in Europe, reaching the absolute record of 17 goals in an edition in the 13/14 season, when he achieved the Tenth with the whites. Up to seven times it reached double digits and in five of them surpassing the ten goals: the 17 already mentioned, 16 in 15/16, twelve in 16/17 and 15 in 17/18.

In his two seasons at Juve, although some have been so many important, he has barely a dozen and most importantly, zero continental titles. An old slab that Juventus carries and that Cristiano has not yet been able to remove.

Madrid, either

Manchester's approach would have been different with Cristiano Ronaldo on the team. When the Portuguese wore white, he was an expert in sentencing a double game either in the first leg, like that tie that came almost decided to Calderón against Atlético, or in the second leg, when he guided the comeback against Wolfsburg with his goals.

Real Madrid have suffered without the Portuguese in Europe. Last season, Ajax suffered at home but prevailed with astonishing forcefulness at the Santiago Bernabéu. This was Manchester City, which Cristiano took the measure with five goals in 12 games in his career, which also triumphed in both places. He won at the Bernabéu and he won at the Etihad. Real Madrid was able to score just two goals (Isco and Benzema), the same as Cristiano scored in his tie. The balance is the same: zero Real Madrid titles without 7 at the continental level. Although the desire is not the same as in Turin, the white demand in their tournament is always maximum.

The league is the refuge

The end of a dynasty in Europe has led both Real Madrid and Cristiano to find refuge in LaLiga. When they were together, they barely triumphed twice, with Barça mostly and Atleti on one occasion, who deprived them of more domestic titles.

At the end of this continental reign, Cristiano has already added as many 'scudetti' as LaLiga trophies thanks to a Juventus that exercises a tyranny in Calcio that, on the other hand, begins to show its seams. Nine titles in a row although with Inter and Lazio closer than in previous years trying to overthrow the empire as Sarri has already tried Napoli, which like Higuaín, allowed themselves to be conquered by 'the dark side'.

Cristiano's departure was a disastrous year for the whites, who could not find the key without him. Neither with Lopetegui, nor with Solari, nor with Zidane who picked up a patient in the ICU and cared for him until the final stretch of the campaign. Now the Frenchman has a recovered team that has adjusted the model. Before, Cristiano conditioned the environment. Now, everything must work together with an attack largely entrusted to Karim Benzema, who honed his fang as a hunter after years of squire for the Portuguese. Thus, it was made with this strange League so conditioned. But they have come to realize, through blows, that Europe could only conquer it together.