Cristiano Ronaldo's best times may be in the past, says Guillem Balague

 

Guillem Balague discusses some concerns for Cristiano Ronaldo, praise for Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid, as well as a thought-provoking question about Neymar's future at Barcelona...

We may have seen the best from Ronaldo

The alarming thing for me is that Cristiano Ronaldo has had 115 touches over Real's opening two games, the same as James Rodriguez had in one game, the 5-0 win over Real Betis. 




I know a goal or two will change that, but if you're going to be a winger – and he wants to play on the left-hand side and cut in centrally as a striker when he wants to – you have to be more involved.

You have to defend better, work harder without the ball. It's up to Cristiano to improve now.

I just keep thinking that we've seen the best from him, and at the moment it's for him to accept his new physical and mental position, and to become a striker.

He doesn't want to be, but it may be the best way to help the team.

Bale, version 9.5

The interesting thing about Gareth Bale against Betis was that he didn't drop as deep as he did against Sporting Gijon.

He wasn't a No 10, but he wasn't a No 9 either. He was like a No 9.5. Not a striker, not a No 10.

He linked up well, moved wide in certain moments, but mostly he got more involved in the game, which is what he wants, what Rafa Benitez wants and what the club wants. So it's a nice step in the right direction.

 

 

Griezmann and James can challenge elite

Real Madrid are still a work in progress. But what is clear is that James Rodriguez will become an essential part of the team, along with Karim Benzema. Both returned, and both made Real Madrid so much better.

 

I've got the impression that this could be the season for Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, who is growing to become one of the top five players in the world.

He's going in that direction, and could be at the end of the season along with James.

It is pure accident that Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have not scored in their first two games, but the transition is happening; both James and Griezmann will be fighting for the Ballon d'Or in the next few years

 

The Neymar conundrum

I'll ask you this question: can Neymar become the No 1 in the world in a team that has Messi in it?
When Neymar is 26 Messi will be 31, so the Argentine will still be at Barcelona.

It's not that Messi will purposefully prevent Neymar from being No 1, but when you're in a team with Messi you have to play for him, and the focus of the attack and the central part of the team is Messi.

So wouldn't it be better for Neymar to go abroad, or somewhere else, to become the superstar he wants to be? I'll leave that question there for you, and I'm sure we'll revisit it throughout the season.

 

Atletico are challengers

Atletico Madrid were fantastic in the 3-0 win at Sevilla. There was nothing romantic or beautiful about them, but it was solid, and it is admirable how they worked together against a team who want to be the next Atletico Madrid. This showed how far away Sevilla are from that.




It's every single detail; the way they keep the ball, pushing the two full-backs up, and what they do without the ball. They know how to compete. This team are fantastic.


For me, they are challengers for the title.