It is not unreasonable to say that the Spanish giant, Real Madrid have never being the same ever since the departure of their golden boy, Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid fans are made to believe that all will be handled well as an alternative was sought but looking back from when he left Madrid to this current moment, it's been a different story.

Madrid are well known for their world class performance in the UEFA Champions League. They're actually referred to as the King of Europe after winning the UEFA Champions League three times in a row. Even before this record was made under their former and present coach (Zinedine Zidane), Madrid have always been a team to fear in the UCL even when they're not doing great in their own local league.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been a very good, strong and consistent player and his impact in Madrid will never be forgotten as he's broken and set a lot of records one of which is Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer. He's that kind of player whose presence only will send a cold whine down the spine of his opponents. He has the highest number of hat-tricks (34) for Real and that's a big deal if you ask me.

It was a big shock to Real fans and the whole world of football at large when Real Madrid announced the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. A lot of speculations was surrounding the exit of the former Manchester United player from Real Madrid as it was not expected that Real Madrid would ever want a player like that to go even if he wanted to.

Well, a lot of rumours and speculations with different reasons spread at that time of the happening until the man himself (Cristiano Ronaldo) cleared the air and gave the real reason he had to leave.

According to The Guardian, Cristiano Ronaldo said he left Real Madrid not because he actually wanted to but because of their president (as at the moment of the issue), Florentino Pérez.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said a shift in his relationship with the Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, convinced him to call time on his glittering nine-year spell at the club. Some of his speeches goes “I felt it inside the club, especially from the president, that they no longer considered me the same way that they did in the start”. “In the first four or five years there I had the feeling of being ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’. Less afterwards, the president looked at me through eyes that didn’t want to say the same thing, as if I was no longer indispensable to them, if you know what I mean".

Judging with Cristiano Ronaldo's speeches, it's clear that the relationship of the Portuguese and his former club president if not the only reason, made a huge contribution to why he left the club. And ever since the departure of a man who is referred to as "Goal Machine" during his stay at Real Madrid because of his scoring attitude, Real Madrid have been a thing of the past especially in the UCL.

Ronaldo won the 2017/2018 UCL with Madrid before his departure and which is the last the club have to their gallery till date. Real Madrid was removed from the 2018/2019 UCL competition by Ajax during the round of 16 second leg with 3-5 aggregate which favoured Ajax. And ever since then, Round of 16 is the farthest Madrid has ever reached as Manchester City sent them packing after beating them home and away in the round of 16 the following season (which is unlike the Madrid we've known). And seeing the way things are going on right now with them after losing against Shahktar last night, they may end up going on this time around without even smelling the round of 16 (and that would be so funny).

It was some time ago reported that Cristiano Ronaldo regrets leaving Real Madrid but with the way things have been ever since his exit, apparently Real Madrid would regret his exit more than him.

Ronaldo's speeches source - The Guardian