They're actually worse off. They were banking on cash from the super league and/or new capital injection, neither ended up happening. The 300 million they had set aside for squad rebuilding went to covering COVID losses.
The guy is competitive regardless of what Messi is doing. He joined Juventus at a time when he and most people thought they needed just that one last piece to lift the trophy. Turns out he joined right as the team went on the decline, both on the field and financially. This is the time to leave really.
No one's saying his competitiveness is tied only to Messi's football moves. But I find it very hard to believe that Messi having better chances for CL with the PSG move has absolutely no bearing on CR7's ambition, given how CR7 has pivoted himself as Messi's rival since 2008 (Messi has actually been much less vocal about it).
Also, COVID was a problem last summer too? I agree that the financial problems worsened this summer compared to the previous, though.
Another which points to IMO his desperation is that he's willing to join City (United's rivals) or PSG (where Messi already is). One could argue that other clubs don't have the financial means to afford but from what we've heard, he's actually taking a 50% pay cut to join City. So that doesn't hold much water, either.
I don't think this is so clear cut that my position is outlandish.
