WOULD IT have ever been conceivable? Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing as part of the same side. If the plans outlined by legendary Manchester United and Juventus forward Carlos Tevez in June are anything to go by, it sounded every bit as possible.
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The only problem with that is that it sounded some way off. But now, as current media reports have suggested, the reality of this pairing – bound to go down as the greatest the universe has seen – seems much closer. But the question over whether it will indeed happen will still linger … that is until some sort of confirmation from either side (Barca or Juve) were to ever come forward that a deal has been agreed.
Ronaldo, who joined the Italian side from Real Madrid back in 2018, has been offered to Barca according to shock reports from the Spanish journalist, Guillem Balague, whose report claims The Old Lady could be ready to cash in after they were bundled out in the last 16 in both Champions League campaigns the 35-year-old has been involved in with them.
Balague has revealed the club are desperate to offload his wages and have “offered him everywhere, including Barcelona.” It would be a shocking move considering Ronaldo’s status as a Madrid legend, as well as the chances of him linking up with Messi. Ronaldo and Messi have been rivals for the last decade, during which time they have shared close to a dozen Ballon d’Or titles between them, bar one.
The duo have never played in the same team together and the thought that they might brings about excitement while stirring a spectre of scepticism. The loss to Olympique Lyon on Friday night has not only resulted in these rumours swirling but in the almost immediate aftermath, led to the sacking of Maurizio Sarri.
The Portuguese forward’s two goals which helped Juve win 2-1 on the night, was not enough to overturn Lyon’s away goal from the first leg which eventually saw them go through 2-2 on aggregate. But all eyes will be on his biggest rival on Friday as Barca search for a sixth Champions League triumph when they tackle Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the 2019/20 competition in Lisbon.