The Presence of Greatness: Ronaldo’s Return to United

Ronaldo’s return to the Red Devil’s marks the pièce de résistance of this summers transfer window and may just kickstart United’s first legitimate title run under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, it won’t be Ronaldo’s supreme skill or elite goalscoring ability that will earn United their fourteenth Premier League title. Instead, it will be his drive to be great that will steer others to new heights.

It’s no secret that Ronaldo has long been heralded the hardest worker in world football. In 1026 appearances for club and country, the Portuguese frontman has directly contributed to over 974 goals, compared to Messi’s 911, making him the most deadly striker in footballs 150 year history. He has captured five Champions League titles and seven league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, earning him 5 Ballon d’Or trophies and 4 European Golden Boots in the process.

Even at 36, Ronaldo’s insane work ethic has pushed him past the boundaries of basic human anatomy, with his most recent medical revealing him to have the body equivalent professional football player 16 years his junior, with 7% body fat and 50% muscle mass.

Cristiano Ronaldo - football365.com

Although most his achievements celebrate his success as an individual, his seven league titles prove one valuable point - hard-work is contagious. Ronaldo’s insane work ethic and drive to be the best pushes others around him to do the same, and with United’s already stacked roster, it could just be the final piece of the puzzle in their recapture of the Premier League.

This is a trait that Ronaldo has possessed since his first stint at United as a teenager, where he would arrive at training over two hours before anyone else and leave an hour after. Not only did this drive turn him into the player he is today, but also pushed others as they tried to outwork him (tried being the keyword).

Ronaldo at Real Madrid - teamtalk.com

This is exactly the type of mentality the current United outfit have been missing. Under Solskjaer, Old Trafford has turned from title winners to regular runners up, without a single piece of silverware to their names. Despite the lack of success, they have still managed to attract some big names to the club, and the only problem that remains is breaking down some of the volatile egos that a multi-million pound price tag comes with.

The addition of Ronaldo won’t only put those egos to rest, but his very presence may elevate his new team mates work ethic to Champions League winning levels, something not seen in Manchester for over a decade.

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