Another 13 years? (photo by Jan Solo)
One of the best signings Real Madrid made was not in the form of Ronaldo or Kaka or Benzema or any of these players. Of course these 3 were great signings but for me, many people tend to forget another signing which Real Madrid made from Manchester United.
That was of Valter di Salvo. Manchester United’s fitness coach who joined Real Madrid during Schusters era I think. He was known to be a world class trainer. Had custom made fitness plans for each player and knew how to balance out work and rest so that players do not get injured or exhausted.
Valter Di salvo has said that Ronaldo can play in top flight football till he is 38. Drawing something from his Manchester United days, he said that Ronaldo can be like Giggs in terms of longevity of his career. Ofcourse, Ronaldo is a way better player right now then Giggs ever was.
Valter Di Salvo says that Ronaldo’s professionalism in exemplary. He always works very hard. Never gives up. Rests proper amount of times and measures his food meticulously. He takes great care of his diet and always wants to improve.
Due to these reasons Ronaldo’s fitness levels are superior to anyone else and this gives him the added advantage of being able to play at a high level well into his 30s. I think if Valter Di Salvo’s prediction is anywhere close to be true then we are in for quite a career.
Whether he plays for Real Madrid during the next 13 years is another question but just think about the shear amount of goals Ronaldo can score. I know at some point he will lose his desire to play and will lose some of his talents but still, this at least gives him some security that he will not be like the old Ronaldo.
Old Ronlado could have achieved even more had he taken care of his fitness a bit more. No, not a bit more, actually a lot more. I mean, old Ronaldo got finished by the time he got 30. Zidane once said that you are at your absolute peak at the age of 30. You feel physically really well and mentally your are very much matured.
I think the edge C.Ronaldo has over all others is that he is a real hard worker. He works on his game a lot. Messi, old Ronaldo and other people like these had far too much natural talent. They were not exactly grinders. Messi, I do not think will last as long as Ronaldo would.
The primary reason for that would be, because Messi plays to enjoy himself. He enjoys playing football, it makes him feel happy. That would only work as long as he is hungry for the game. Has passion for the game. When the time comes when these things will not give him joy, peace or security, his levels would drop drastically.
Take Ronaldinho, Robinho and old Ronaldo as prime examples. All played good football because it gave them happiness. As soon as they achieved everything (apart from Robinho) their passion level dropped and now Ronaldinho is playing in a Brazillian league when he should be playing for clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona.
C.Ronaldo is different from all these guys. He not only plays football to enjoy himself. He plays football as he takes it as his job. He has to do it, whether he feels happy about it or not. He plays football to earn money and fame. He does not just play football to get joy. This attitude towards football as being a mixture of passion and profession is something that will help Ronaldo to stay focused for a very long time.
I think next season is going to be a defining one for both Ronaldo and Messi. Both have achieved pretty much everything. Now its a matter of determination and passion. Who will lose it first. Or may be, perhaps it is for the first time in a very long time, two players who play in a similar position are fighting for the same prize for such a long time and may be this fact will drive both to have longer careers.
Not just longer career, but long careers while playing at the peak of their powers.
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