Cristiano Ronaldo and His Undead Football Future
Ronaldo’s undead decade, Pique plays politics and Falcao’s happy return. 5 pieces of water cooler wisdom in the morning sob of sport.
Sports Burst – Ronaldo’s undead football future
By Tim Stannard
1) Ronaldo pledges to play into his forties
The bold promise from Cristiano Ronaldo that Monday’s deal renewal with Real Madrid that “It's not going to be my last contract, let it be known” can mean only one of three things.
Firstly, the footballer, who will be 36 when his new 2021 extension runs out, has successfully gotten his whip out and tracked down the mythical fountain of youth in the close season, Indiana Jones-style. Or, the Madrid man plans to be cryogenically frozen at Valdebebas in between matches. Thirdly, there is the possibility of a vampire vibe with Ronaldo only being available for games past around seven in the evening. Actually, there is a fourth for those not of an immortal bent but still looking for football action in the twilight years– MLS.
That North American vibe was the big hint from CR7 and his big, designer classes in Monday’s ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu to celebrate the footballer adding another three years onto his current contract, although the Portuguese poacher wants more. “I want to play until I am 41,” said the Instagram icon. Tune into the XTRA at 7PM ET / 4PM PT for all the latest from Madrid on a special day for Ronaldo.
2) Presidential politics and Messi praise from Pique
In the other half of the great Clasico chasm and it is Praise City for Leo Messi’s sterling one man performance for Barcelona in a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the Sanchez Pizjuan. Gerard Pique, normally reticent to share his opinion on social media, yelled on Twitter that his teammate should have won the Ballon d’Or for every year since 2009. Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta probably enjoyed that particular suggestion from the polemic Pique. The Barcelona player also showed himself to be very much With Her with a tweet following the suggestion to not boo, but vote.
3) Inter on brink of Pioli appointment
After playing eenie-meenie for a week, Inter’s various bosses scattered around the world are expected on Monday to appoint former Lazio boss, Stefano Pioli, as the new coach in a season-and-a-half deal. Basically, until Diego Simeone comes in from Atletico Madrid and Pioli is manfully escorted from the premises. However, former Inter striker, Diego Milito, says that he would have chosen Leonardo as the new Inter boss, but has sympathy for the plight of Frank de Boer. “Unfortunately he did not get immediate results and when there are no results, the first to pay is always the coach,” sighed Milito.
4) Milik reveals reclusive Serie A life
Sidelined Polish striker, Arkadiusz Milik, has revealed the peculiarities of living in the city of Naples and how he avoids leaving the house too much after being followed for four miles by men on mopeds one day. “At a traffic light, they knocked on the window, and asked me for an autograph. I feared they wanted more,” revealed Milik who says he expects to return to action in the spring as he recovers from an ACL injury.
5) A welcome return for Falcao
Once again, club football is starting to ease its way off the stage to be replaced by international fare. And that means a mad-as-bats race for World Cup qualification that could well see Argentina missing out on the race to Russia unless it gets something out of upcoming games against Brazil and Colombia. One of the footballers standing in the way of Messi and co will be Radamel Falcao – although standing gingerly after straining something during a gentle sprint. The Monaco man was called up to the Colombia team and Coach Pekerman is as pleased as punch about it.
"Falcao has always been a key player in the national team," said the Colombia boss ahead of Thursday’s Chile clash which will be live on beIN SPORTS from 3:20PM ET / 12:20PM PT followed by the small matter of a game between Brazil and Argentina
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The life philosophy of Sports Burst is that if you are not upsetting someone, then you are not trying hard enough. SB is a daily trawl and troll through the morning's sports news to bring you fact-nuggets to make you both smile and swear. Hopefully at the same time.