Dubai: When the summer’s biggest transfer story broke and Cristiano Ronaldo announced he would be leaving Real Madrid after 10 years and heading to Serie A champions Juventus, one of the main questions was: “How will they cope without him?”
Swimmingly is the short answer.
Real minus their all-time top goalscorer and best player have got off to a flying start in La Liga and do not seem to be missing Ronaldo in the slightest. If anything they seem to be positively thriving in his absence.
With three wins from three games and 10 goals scored, Real are joint-top of the Liga table alongside perennial rivals Barcelona and, despite Julen Lopetegui failing to draft in a replacement, they are looking like a good bet to get their hands back on the Spanish title trophy and possibly even an unprecedented fourth consecutive Champions League title.
This transition into the Ronaldo-less world at the Bernabeu seems to be down to one thing. They are now playing as a team. With CR7’s ego out of the way, everyone is looking out for each other and playing without the fear of a remonstration from the petulant frontman.
Playing for Los Blancos looks like fun again for the players and Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio are leading the line without the pressure of Ronaldo’s shadow looming over them. They are relishing getting the guaranteed playing time rather than warming the substitutes’ bench (heaven forbid Ronaldo ever being benched when fit for a big game).
Poor old Ronnie, meanwhile, has found the route to goal in Italy hard to find as he is yet to net in a competitive match for his new employers.
I’m sure he will come good soon for Juve but his old side are actually looking like a better side without him.
So, Real’s loss is, well, Real’s gain as the freedom the men in white now have is converting rather satisfactorily into goals and points.
