Piers Morgan, an Arsenal fan plays therapist to Cristiano Ronaldo

Narcissism and self destruction go hand in hand. See Elon Musk.

Cristiano Ronaldo was a boon for Manchester United in his first avatar. One of the most exciting talents. And he went from strength to strength in Real Madrid and thereafter Juventus. He’s a legend but he really does not really know how and when to let go. Strangely, Wayne Rooney for being a complete yob, understood this, dropping deeper as he slowed down, becoming an important cog rather than the spearhead and yet fitting in perfectly with his club. Ronaldo unfortunately suffers from this Peter Pan delusion, somehow the musculoskeletal plant can withstand the vagaries of time. This is not so.

Ronaldo has never been a playmaker unlike Messi, Rooney, and Kane, who have found success creating even as they went through dry spells goal scoring. He cannot reinvent himself because the only thing he knows is how to score goals. The apex predator with no one presently coming close, other than the dubious Romario, with Messi considerably behind. This is who he is. A destroyer who breaks hearts with a 90th minute hang time header. You count him out at your own peril. But this season has been tough with more sulks than goals. And the interview with Piers Morgan was a desperate own goal. No self respecting club (yes, eye roll, Utd sold their souls to the devil a long time ago) can overlook the blatant disrespect. So it’s curtains after the World Cup with legal action being considered.

The tragedy would be to see Ronaldo transform into a version of Norma Desmond of the soccer world.