Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in the summer transfer window, have endured difficult seasons, and have made one individual quite unhappy with their transfer decisions, feels former Chelsea striker Nicholas Anelka.
No stranger to making moves himself, Anelka thinks that both the players, now in the twilight of their playing days, should have chosen easier destinations in order to prolong their already successful careers.
The former France international believes both Messi and Ronaldo have not been “intelligent” in choosing where to spend the final years of their playing career and claims that there is no shame in hanging up your boots early or turning up in a far-off destination, such as China or the United States of America.
“This is what happens to players who want to play longer.
“Their careers are over and I think they must both be very happy with what they have achieved in the last 15 years. They were above the others and now it is normal for them to slow down.
“[They] were not intelligent. They should have thought of facing a less complicated challenge because you have to make the right decisions to finish at the top. There are players who don’t hesitate to finish at 32, 33, 34 so as not to be criticized. I stopped at 36, but at 32 I went to China.”
Anelka told RMC Sport.
Messi has found it more difficult to settle into his new surroundings than his counterpart. Making up one-third of a stellar front three, the Argentine has, nevertheless, scored just twice in the league this season – although he did manage five in seven appearances in Europe.
However, even the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner hasn’t been able to provide the answer to PSG’s seasonal continental problems, with the Parisians exiting the Champions League, yet again, at the Round-of-16 stage.
Ronaldo, and Manchester United, suffered a similar fate themselves when they were knocked out by Atletico Madrid earlier this week. The Red Devils are bound to finish trophyless for the fifth year running, but the Portugal international is still enjoying a productive campaign; he has scored 18 times in 32 appearances this season.
