Could Cristiano Ronaldo Be Napoli’s New Diego Maradona?

Cristiano Ronaldo is still desperate to leave Manchester United but the club are still defiant in not letting him go.

After many clubs have distanced themselves from taking the 37-year-old forward, Napoli is emerging as a possible destination.

According to the Sun:

"NAPOLI have reportedly been offered the chance to snap up Cristiano Ronaldo by the Manchester United striker’s agent Jorge Mendes.The 37-year-old has reiterated his desire to depart Old Trafford this summer when he met with Red Devils chiefs at Carrington this week."

Napoli is known for making big signings before and was the club that signed Diego Maradona from Barcelona back in 1984.

Maradona had a successful spell at the club playing 256 times, scoring 114 goals, and making 61 assists. With the club, he also won Serie A twice, the Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Cup.

Ronaldo is a world-class talent just like Maradona and would have a lot to live up to if he is to join the Naples side.

World Napoli Make a Good Fit for Cristiano Ronaldo?

Napoli, having finished third in Serie A last season, would offer Ronaldo the Champions League football he craves. Ronaldo currently has 140 goals in the competition, Lionel Messi has 125. Messi is at Paris Saint-Germain, who has ambitions of winning it; he will surely close the gap on Ronaldo this season.

Whilst at Manchester United who is in the Europa League, if Ronaldo stays he will not be able to add to his tally this season. He has always been in a team in the Champions League and to be in the competition below, that must feel like being relegated for a player of Ronaldo’s calibre.

However, in Italy, Napoli have a big rivalry with Ronaldo’s former club Juventus. It is a North vs South derby and one of the most fierce in Italian football, in fat, in Europe. If he was to sign with Napoli it would not go down well with the Old Lady and her fans.

Ronaldo enjoyed a stint at Juventus where he scored 101 goals in 134 appearances for the club. He then returned to Man United after being heavily linked with their city rivals Manchester City.

The player has never played for two rival clubs and also has only played for one club in each of the countries he has been in. Sporting in Portugal, Manchester United in England, Real Madrid in Spain and Juventus in Italy.

Cristiano Ronaldo is Running Out of Options

His return to United has not gone according to plan. It was an emotional return and he still scored 18 Premier League goals last season; the club’s highest for the 2021/22 campaign.

Ronaldo is running out of options with Atletico Madrid fans not keen on him joining them and them ultimately pulling away from any Ronaldo deal. Bayern Munich and Chelsea have distanced themselves from signing him as well.

Napoli could be his best bet if United are to let him go. It would not be great for Eric ten Hag’s team to have a star player who does not want to be there next season. It would suit Ronaldo as it would enable him to play in the Champions League.

For Napoli fans, it would remind those of a certain age of their glory days when Maradona was at the club. Their younger fans will get to experience having a football megastar at their club.

It would be a shame for the Manchester United fans to see Ronaldo go but a move back to Italy may be best for all parties involved.