Cristiano Ronaldo’s comeback to the place where he became arguably the biggest sports star in the world created a lot of attention. Both Ronaldo and Manchester United have massive fanbases, plus the entire football community was shocked with this development, so it is really no wonder why his move is still buzzing all over the media.
However, the reaction wasn’t only coming from the football world. The sportsbooks had to make a lot of adjustments to their already released odds and offers.
With Cristiano in the lineup, the Red Devils are immediately at least a 30% better team. His flamboyancy upfront will upgrade United’s solid, but not elite offensive line. With all due respect to Rashford, Martial, and the rest of the boys in the attack, Ronaldo is superior to them. He is one of the best scorers of all time, if not the best.
That is why the Red Devils’ odds for winning the title improved massively. Before the transfer, the team from Trafford had their Vegas odds between 10/1 and 8/1 to lift the trophy, but after Ronaldo arrived, they immediately got down to 11/2, positioning themselves slightly behind Liverpool at 5/1. The top two places are reserved for Manchester City, 5/4, and Chelsea, who is 5/2 right now.
United Respectable Force in Europe Again
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his boys weren’t considered potential winners of the UEFA Champions League before Ronaldo returned. United was 20/1 at the time at some bookmakers, but now, they sit at 10/1, and it seems that as the time goes by, those odds will only be shorter.
It is not just about his quality but the fact that the entire team received a boost of confidence when he showed up at the training center. The fans, too, are feeling some crazy energy not just in the stands but all over the city. That is the “Ronaldo Effect.”
His winning mentality will push the team even in the moments when things aren’t working in their favor. Until this moment, United did lack some leadership on the field, and even though things began sorting out when Bruno Fernandes landed, this is something completely else.
The Red Devils are No.1 favorites for winning their Group F in the UEFA Champions League. Even though they face Villarreal, the team that defeated them in the recent Europe League finals, United sits far ahead of all the rivals – Atalanta, Young Boys, and the mentioned Yellow Submarine.
Cristiano Chasing Individual Prizes as Well
We need to say a few words about the individual awards and Ronaldo’s prospects for winning some of them. Check this out. The moment he came to England, Ronaldo immediately became the top favorite for winning the PFA Player of the Year award.
He is 4/1, ahead of his teammate, Bruno Fernandes 8/1, and Kevin de Bruyne, who has the same odds as United’s midfielder.
Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku are the biggest contenders for the EPL Golden Boot award – 5/2, ahead of Mo Salah, 6/1.
All this is only a slight reflection of how Ronaldo changed everything with a transfer to Old Trafford. We expect to see more of his work in the months to come.
