Quote (zarkadon @ Sep 30 2014 06:26pm)

I don't think he will retire here. Aside from Zidane, who retired relatively early because he lacked motivation to keep playing football, and Hierro, who was pretty much forced to retire, I can't really think of players that have managed to retire wearing Madrid's shirt in recent times.

The most recent examples I can think of are Sanchís (retired after winning the 8th CL in 2000), and Chendo (who retired in 1998 after winning the 7th), but they were never really world class players, and they played defensive roles and barely got any play time during their last years.

You have to go really far back to see world class players retiring while playing for Madrid (Gento, Puskás, Santamaría, Santillana, Amancio, etc.)

The list of world class players that have ended up leaving Madrid to retire in a smaller club or league is huge: Roberto Carlos, Raúl, Butragueño, Hugo Sánchez, Laudrup, Juanito, Netzer, Cannavaro, Rial... even Di Stefano finished his carreer playing for Espanyol.

The only way I can see Cristiano retiring in the club is if he's willing to decrease his play time and eventualy accept a secondary role in the team... but that really doesn't sound like him, at least right now.

I think he'll retire in the portuguese Liga, ether playing for Sporting or Nacional... the only thing question here though would be if a player with such a competitive personality would be able to find motivation while playing at a lower level.

Quote (zarkadon @ Sep 30 2014 10:26am)

I don't think he will retire here. Aside from Zidane, who retired relatively early because he lacked motivation to keep playing football, and Hierro, who was pretty much forced to retire, I can't really think of players that have managed to retire wearing Madrid's shirt in recent times.

The most recent examples I can think of are Sanchís (retired after winning the 8th CL in 2000), and Chendo (who retired in 1998 after winning the 7th), but they were never really world class players, and they played defensive roles and barely got any play time during their last years.

You have to go really far back to see world class players retiring while playing for Madrid (Gento, Puskás, Santamaría, Santillana, Amancio, etc.)

The list of world class players that have ended up leaving Madrid to retire in a smaller club or league is huge: Roberto Carlos, Raúl, Butragueño, Hugo Sánchez, Laudrup, Juanito, Netzer, Cannavaro, Rial... even Di Stefano finished his carreer playing for Espanyol.

The only way I can see Cristiano retiring in the club is if he's willing to decrease his play time and eventualy accept a secondary role in the team... but that really doesn't sound like him, at least right now.

I think he'll retire in the portuguese Liga, ether playing for Sporting or Nacional... the only thing question here though would be if a player with such a competitive personality would be able to find motivation while playing at a lower level.