I've never been the one for triumphant homecomings or romantic returns! Once you've said good night at a particular place, you're courting trouble if you go back to say good evening. A sportsman who's had a wonderful time at the top, retired, only to come out of retirement; a footballer who made his name at a particular club, moved on to greater heights then return to where he once left so as to complete an incredible story. One who was cut loose because he was deemed not ready, moved to another place, developed to world class status, only to go back to where he was once deemed surplus to requirements so as to fulfill his dreams of thriving for the club.
All these circumstances are wonderful in movies and bedtime stories. In real life scenarios, they rarely go to plan. Say, for example, Tom Brady is the undoubted GOAT of the NFL. The dude is peerless and well respected. When he announced he was retiring, time stood still for him. He didn't win another title but he didn't do his legacy no harm. Only God knows who or what convinced him to come out of retirement. Right now he's nothing but a butt of jokes with his on-field displays and off-field issues with Giselle Bündchen. I'm pretty sure if he could rewind the clock, he will stay retired.
Or, what do we say about Zidane coming out of retirement for the 2006 World Cup only to lose his cool and get sent off with minutes to penalties while his team was clearly dominant? For some football lovers of this generation, they only remembered the Zidane who headbutted Materazzi, not the one one who wowed football lovers with incredible skills. A glorious career ended with an indelible stain.
Sports is littered with incredible stories of people who returned to a place where they were once revered only to have their reputations seriously harmed. Wenger tempted Jens Lehmann back to Arsenal when he was having a goalkeeper crisis in 2011. Mad Jens came in, raised hell, sat on the bench a couple times and rode into the sunset. As crazy as the German was, he was crazily loved by the Gunners faithful. His return was ill-timed and fruitless.
Or, we can talk about the generational talent Paul Scholes who came out of retirement to help Ferguson. His return didn't do his reputation any harm, but it was glaring that the Ginger Prince was well past it. I'm pretty sure he regretted playing that season. We can as well discuss Lukaku and Pogba, two friends who went back to where they were initially deemed surplus to requirements as young players. They wanted to complete a wonderful story. However, they only damaged their careers. Pogba is recovering in Juventus with the possibility of playing for his beloved Real Madrid all but ended. He probably regrets the day he re-signed for Man United. Lukaku ditched Inter for Chelsea. He wanted to banish the memories of that penalty he missed as an 18 year old boy. He's now back at Inter as a traitor, his second coming at Chelsea the most underwhelming episode of his career so far.
When Ronaldo's return to Manchester United was announced, I was livid with anger. Though an assured performer, I believed United have had its fill of ageing, experienced footballers who only come in, make some serious money, and leave the team in a worse condition than they met it. Zlatan, Schweinsteiger and Cavani are football icons. They couldn't help United. It's foolish of anyone to think Ronaldo will do it considering he failed woefully in his last task of helping Juventus win the Champions League.
I was roundly criticized for raising this issue back then, but time always reveals all hidden truths. Whatever has happened with Ronaldo does not please me, I don't wish to see him embarrassed. I pray this issue gets resolved and the man is allowed to leave in January. The situation is no longer salvageable, keeping him around will only worsen the case. However, in line with what I do strongly believe, goodbyes really should be goodbyes. Most triumphant returns do end in disgrace. Ronaldo's return is already conforming to that pattern! I hope others learn from this.
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