Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Manchester United was anything but harmonious, but one theory behind his exit has since been debunked.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner has won all there is to win at club level and has long been viewed as one of the greatest players of all time. One of the many reasons behind this is Ronaldo's ability to deliver on the highest level, such as the Champions League.
Ronaldo has long enjoyed a glorious love affair with European club football's most prestigious competition and in the build up to his Old Trafford exit, former Chelsea striker and prominent pundit Tony Cascarino claimed the Portugal captain wanted to remain in Europe because he feared Lionel Messi would surpass his Champions League goal tally.
Ronaldo is the Champions League's greatest ever goalscorer after bagging 140 goals in the competition over the course of the past 19 years. However, Messi is not far behind on 129 and will have more chances to add to that tally this term as Paris Saint-Germain gear up for a round-of-16 second-leg clash against Bayern Munich next week.
Speaking in the summer of last year, Cascarino explained to talkSPORT : "Ronaldo is a player, as always, that has an ego. A lot of it is about him but the teams he’s played in have been successful, so you always go with that as a team player.
"I said to you off-air, I’m a bit suspicious because he’s got 140 goals in the Champions League. Messi has got 125. He doesn’t want to not play Champions League football because he wants to be the greatest Champions League goalscorer of all time and that’s how Ronaldo is made."
Well, seven months down the line that theory has been left looking rather foolish given Ronaldo has since fled Old Trafford for sunny Saudi Arabia. The 38-year-old now plies his trade for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, where he has got off to a flying start.
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The former Real Madrid sensation has a stellar return of eight goals in his first five games for his new side.
Some have pondered whether Ronaldo would ever return to Europe after his contract at Al-Nassr expires, but comments from the man himself during his unveiling last month seem to quash that speculation.
"In Europe, my work is done," the superstar added. "I had many offers in Europe, many in Brazil, Australia, the US, even in Portugal.
"Many clubs tried to sign me but I gave my word to this club, for the opportunity to have not only football but (to be) part of this amazing country. And for me, it was a challenge."
