The Madrid Effect – An Unsolved Mystery

Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to fulfill his dream .The world of Soccer once again witnessed the best player in world  get in the field for Real Madrid. The Question that roars all over is “Will he be able to Live the Dream also ?”.

Cristiano Ronaldo stayed at Manchester United for six years; six great years of his life .His performance and achievements gained him the best of applauds from fans as well as the Manager. At the peak of glory ,he moved on  to Real Madrid to seek new challenges. The World wonders ,Was it the Best move? The History of Soccer contradicts it strongly,

Would C.Ronaldo  be able to overcome the nightmares and escape the consequences, which so many of world’s best players have suffered  after  playing for Madrid.

Beckham and Ronaldo both wore the Number 7 Shirt for the Red Devils. When Beckham moved to Madrid, Madrid believed to have compiled  A Dream Team. With Big names as Raul, Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldo, Figo ,Roberto Carlos and Cassilas ,It appeared a  team that could only be fantasized.

From  this dream team, Beckham ended up his four years stay at Madrid with just  a single Spanish title. His scoring average was a goal in every fourth game for Devils, which declined to Seven games a goal. Beckham has been struggling to keep his pace since then and still awaits offer from an alluring club.

Beckham’s arrival at Spain worked as last season for Steve Mcmanaman-An English player of high profile and talent. During his very first year at Madrid, Steve became the first English player ever to win European Cup. But his success and talent were hit by entrants as Figo ,Beckham and  Ronaldo, whose presence in the  squad kept Steve to bench. He had a frustrated move back to England for Manchester City but curse accompanied him. His skills did not work out for City and he  eventually had to go for an early retirement.

Michael Owen proved quite well during his first season at Madrid with 18 goals   where 13 were in Spanish League. The Striker had highest ratio of goals scored in matter of minutes on field. But at the end of  the season ,Madrid signed for Brazilian duo -Robinho and Bapista, thus limiting Owen to benches. He got back to England and signed for New Castle United but luck did not favor and injuries hit him. As New Castle got relegated, Owen was left as a free bird, When  Sir Alex Ferguson grabbed him surprisingly, giving him a career saving chance. Owen has been given Shirt number 7, A position that is considered a success in England.

There are in fact Two Ronaldos-Two great players. The Brazilian during his stay at Madrid wore the same shirt as Cristiano is wearing now. Ronaldo signed for Madrid after seeing his Home team win the 2002 World Cup  ,much of which  was due to his 2  goals in Final. But his time at the Spanish club never proved that pleasant. He managed to win Spanish league but failed to achieve his dream of European Champions. He moved  to  AC Milan, followed by shadow of bad luck. Injuries jumped in as hurdles for his game and another greats of soccer is seeing his career’s dead end.

Other Big names as Fernando Heirro ,former Real Madrid Captain and Spanish footballer Fernando Morientes  also had  suffer  at  hands of ill fate once they had been in  The Madrid. Heirro had to announce an early retirement, whereas Morientes   who had scored 72 goals in 182 games for Madrid during his 8 years in the club, failed to prove his worth when he moved to England. He collapsed badly at Liverpool as well as for Valencia and now awaiting a contract to revive his game.

Beside all this list of  ill-fated  stars from Madrid ,there are some exceptions too. J. Woodgate got himself rescued  at Spurs and Claude Mekelele ,did prove his worth successfully at Chelsea even after  leaving Madrid.

 What ever the case may be, The mystery of  “The Madrid  Effect”  remains unsolved .Does the career of world’s  best footballers goes a decline after they leave the club. Will Cristiano Ronaldo be able to save himself from these consequences?.  Does he has strengths to prove his move as  best one  and then Live a dream life when he walks out.

Only time would tell !!! .