Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the start of the new season after undergoing surgery on his ankle, but a more serious problem is troubling Manchester United's superstar: his public alignment with Fifa president Sepp Blatter's controversial 'modern slavery' remarks.
Ronaldo supported Blatter's assertion that there is 'too much modern slavery' in football, a comment that has drawn widespread criticism. McNulty argues that while Ronaldo's words were unwise, he did not explicitly call himself a slave. However, the subtext is clear: Ronaldo wants a move to Real Madrid.
McNulty sheds no tears for Manchester United, noting that the club has ruthlessly pursued players from other clubs for years. He suggests United should sell Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a fee of around £70m, which would be a financial victory for the club.
He also argues that United would survive and prosper without Ronaldo, as they were champions before he arrived and will be again after he leaves. A sulking Ronaldo, hankering for the Bernabeu, is not an asset worth keeping.
