Over the summer, two of the biggest names in world football found themselves at new clubs.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus for a surprise move back to his former club Man United, while Lionel Messi joined PSG, having spent his entire professional career at Barcelona.
Photo via Getty Images
Both are facing high expectations at their new teams…but it appears that only one of them seems to be coping well and even thriving under the pressure.
At United, Ronaldo looks like he never left…making a flying start with four goals in three matches, including two on his debut and one in Europe.
Even at 36, it doesn’t look like he’s having any trouble keeping up with his much younger teammates…in fact, he’s starting to take on the role of mentor to some of the junior Red Devils.
Photo via AFP
On top of all that, the United faithful adore Ronaldo, singing out his name at every match, and the player himself looks like he’s absolutely loving his second spell at Old Trafford.
By comparison, Messi looks like a lost soul in his new surroundings at PSG.
The Argentine has made three appearances but has only completed one match and has yet to find the back of the net.
This, despite the popular opinion that Ligue 1 would be too ‘easy’ for Messi, who was expected to be even more free-scoring than he was in La Liga.
Photo via ESPN
Even the adulation from the fans seems to be fading. The player was given a hero’s welcome in front of tens of thousands of supporters in Paris, but now the reception seems more subdued as Messi struggles to make his mark.
Some observers point to the fact that Messi spent his entire professional career at Barcelona – a club where he was the focal point of attention on and off the field.
Understandably, he would need a bit more time to adapt to new teammates, a new system of play, a new environment, and having to share the limelight with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Compare that to Ronaldo, who started off his career at Man United, moved to Real Madrid before making a stop at Juventus, and then finally returning to the Red Devils.
The Portuguese has had plenty of experience moving from one big team to another and knows what it is like and what it takes to quickly adapt and thrive in a new environment.
Photo via Caught Offside
It is still early days in the latest chapter of these two player’s careers, but already you get the feeling that Ronaldo is so settled that he could easily spend another couple of years at United.
For Messi on the other hand, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he looks to leave before the summer, perhaps back to Barcelona, where one suspects his heart remains.
By: Nicholas Darren John
