Soccer

Former Premier League star slams 'finished' Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over wrong transfers

Former French international Nicolas Anelka is convinced that superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo didn't make the right choicethey decided to move to Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, respectively, last summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Lionel Messi of PSG
© Martin Rickett & Silvestre Szpylma/Getty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Lionel Messi of PSG

Last summer will be remembered for the transfers of the two greatest soccer players of the 21st century, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. During one of the mostmind-boggling transfer windows ever, Lionel Messi left his childhood clubBarcelona, as a result of the poor financial situation, to join Paris Saint-Germain.

The Argentine forward spenta total of 21 years at Camp Nou, including his time as a member of the La Masia academy. Meanwhile, his arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo transferred from Juventus to Manchester United, i.e. returned to the squad where he played until 2009 before opting to joinReal Madrid.

Almost seven months later, neither of the two has managed to help his respectiveside reach theUEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals.This is the second seasonin a row that the Portuguese veteran and the Argentine ace have been knocked out in the last16.

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Nicolas Anelka brandsCristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as finished

As a result, former French international Nicolas Anelka believes that twolegendsmade the wrongdecisions to switch teamsin summer 2021 and has suggested that it would be the right time for both of themto decide to hang their boots.

“Their careers are finished and I think they both have to 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 toslow down. Both of them should have been smarter.

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“They should have thought about taking on a less complicated challenge because you have to make the right decisions to finish on top.I was more surprised by Messi than by Ronaldo. I thought Messi would take a walk in France, and Ronaldo would have more difficulties in England because, for me, the Premier League is the most demanding in the world”, Anelka toldRMC Sport.

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