I don't think it's that off topic since this deal is apparently contingent on the Ronaldo situation. Saying the point is we're weak isn't a strong point. That is a mindset that ensures we remain so indefinitely. The new CEO can show something different.
Okay, putting him in with the kids was a slight exaggeration, that would be silly. But I believe what ETH is already doing is fine. I don't see that him being a brand player is a major concern or that it will have any impact on sponsors to bench Ronaldo for however many weeks it takes for him to get over his ridiculous temper tantrum. Its like a toddler, once they realise the possibility for getting the new toy is absolutely gone, the process of adjusting to a new reality has to begin.
Benching is a likely short term sporting decision, sponsorships are medium to long term strategic decisions so conflating the two exaggerates the significance of Ronaldo's player power. Our own sponsors also need strong clubs and if we make poor financial and sporting decisions it is not a good association. I think paying players off for not being professional or fulfilling their obligations is poor.
Players have fellowship with their colleagues. What affected Ronaldo has some influence on players close to him.
Sponsors earn money through different venue. They don't dip into club own revenue. A club can make both poor financial and sporting decisions itself, and sponsors can still make money if there is certain brand that work for their interest. If the club is weaker brand than the players' brand, next sponsors pay less to club.
Professionalism is subjective in sport. A player can fulfill all training, attendance requirement, playing obligation and still unhappy, disagreeing with the club that not reach the point of leaking line up, tactic. That's not punishable in the legal term, and unreasonable for club to go out their way to punish a player.
Yes. Ronaldo is egoist, but managing ego is the management's job. Benching him, he can freely display dismay expression to media on the bench.
Ronaldo missing a whole season because our guys trying to look tough in this case is more on us than him from sponsor perspective. He would be at World Cup regardless. It's not like he's refusing to pass, run, training... Ronaldo is pretty much handing transfer request. If we don't use him, then let him leave is a reasonable action.
Remember how SAF handle all the fall out? During the season, he left players out of spotlight for unknown injury reason. If the players were included in match day squad, they were reasonably utilized. No petty publicly punishment, putting fuel into the flame. Ridding the player ASAP at next best available time, and I repeat we used to sell undervalue all to put out the flame, to maintain focus in the squad. Be it RvN, Roy Keane, Becks...