Real Madrid bombshell: Cristiano Ronaldo told James not to join Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo advised James Rodriguez to snub Manchester United
Manchester United’s dreams to purchase James Rodriguez from Real Madrid seem to have been killed by an unlikely source. Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly advised his teammate not to move to United due to the presence of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Diariogol report that Ronaldo’s “rough times” under Mourinho caused him to counsel his teammate against the move to England. James, of course, has struggled to secure regular playing time for Los Blancos. A move to the Premier League could have been the key to kick-starting his career.
As it stands, James appears to be staying put for the time being. A big money move in the summer is still a distinct possibility, but count on him staying with Zinedine Zidane’s club for the remainder of this campaign.
Officials at United have to be fuming at the idea that Ronaldo killed their dream transfer move. The general consensus is that the club still have a positive relationship with their former star. The quality of their relationship will dissipate quickly if the Portuguese star really did keep the Colombian from signing with the club.
In truth, Ronaldo’s advice likely has more to do with Mourinho than anyone else at Old Trafford. The two frequently clashed over Ronaldo’s lack of effort on the defensive end of the pitch. It would be easy to see James and Mourinho having the same sort of conflict.
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In fact, I believe Ronaldo did everyone involved a favor by nixing a potential move. Manchester United’s fan base is always up for a big-name signing, but that doesn’t mean James would have been a great fit at the club. Mourinho’s club already has a plethora of attacking midfield talent. James would be the club’s most talented number 10, but probably wouldn’t drastically change the club’s fortunes.
It’s highly possible that James would face the same challenges at Manchester United that he’s encountered at Real Madrid. I fail to see where he’d be a constant starter at United. James could have ended up going the same way as Memphis Depay under Mourinho’s tutelage.
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Manchester United fans might be upset that Cristiano Ronaldo has cost them James Rodriguez, but it could be a blessing in disguise for the Premier League giants.