The awkwardness of Real Madrid's handling of Cristiano Ronaldo Opinion Saved Los Blancos' blushes again

The other day it was the latest penalty in the world, however, that was not enough.

Cristiano Ronaldo flicked the ball into the bottom corner of Kepa Arrizabalaga's goal on Wednesday against Athletic Club.

In the Madrid derby he volleyed a ball that was coming from an unbelievable height to beat another giant of a goalkeeper in Jan Oblak, and prior to that it was the sensational over-head kick against Juventus, a moment that is permanently burned into the memory of supporters.

His scoring record has stretched to 12 successive matches, equalling his best run with Real Madrid, a club that was recently thinking about signing Neymar to replace the outgoing legend.

Perhaps the Portuguese forward was a hindrance to their plans.

Real Madrid shouldn't read so many comics.

Superman has just turned 80, but the club decided to move on from their own superhero, who is just 33, at a time when Ronaldo's mood was damaged by an inability to find the net earlier in the season, as well as a lack of affection from the club.

Ronaldo couldn't miss the newspaper reports that Neymar was the next idol of the Spanish capital's own Marvel universe, that there would be untold affection for the Brazilian and that he would cost nothing less than 200 million euros.

Real Madrid had lost its short-term memory, they were Dory from Finding Nemo.

The club had forgotten the unforgettable, despite it happening very recently.

They hadn't taken into consideration the incredible performance put in by the Portuguese international in the previous season before making their own judgement on what the veteran could give in the future.

Anticipating a decline that only Ronaldo's enemies would wish on him was a reckless move, especially when it hadn't even arrived.

The most decisive player in the most challenging competition in the world, the Champions League, was denied the improved contract he was pursuing with a renewed sense of determination.

Older people always say that clubs are bigger than a single player, and that's generally true, but Ronaldo has earned the right to be an exception.

Think of what Los Blancos would have been like without him for all these years.

The club wouldn't be where they are today and for that reason, the club should have ignored convention and swallowed their pride.

With people of this calibre, like Lionel Messi, clubs swallow toads and snakes to keep them content, but Real Madrid tried to avoid this.

Their strategy with the former Manchester United forward has been so clumsy that now they'll have to do everything to retain him.

The club must convince the forward that their affection is true, in both health and sickness.

Real Madrid will have to sweat blood for Ronaldo to stay.