Message to Manchester United fans: Stop making excuses.
You hate Ronaldo because he is disloyal. You hate him because of his attitude. You hate him because of his want to play for another club. You hate him because his girlfriend wants him to move to Spain.
You hate his hair, his nationality, and by god, your squad will be just as strong with him gone, if not better, good riddance and thank you very much. Rubbish. It’s all utter rubbish, and I’m going to give you 4.1 reasons why.
1. Pride. One of the real reasons United fans are upset is because their pride is hurt. Their best attacking player has stated his wish to play for another foreign club that he regards as bigger, better, and where his playing destiny lies, or whatever. Deal with it.
The fact is, not only Ronaldo, but many, many more people and players regard Real Madrid as a bigger and better club. On paper? Maybe not. Is it the glamour? The history? The culture? Yes. And whether they are right or not, and whether United fans agree or disagree, neither matter.
The reality is, if you took a poll around the world (especially mainland Europe and South America) I guarantee you more players have "dreamed of playing for Real" than Manchester United.
2. Manchester United trained Ronaldo to be the player that he is, and he should show some loyalty. Please. He’s not a youth player, United bought him from Sporting, a major Portuguese club whose players are raided every single year by clubs like United. Do you see them bitching and moaning because their players want to play for a bigger club?
3. Real Madrid have tried to poach Ronaldo by constantly stating their wish to sign him. So? He’s arguably the best player in the world on form, it’s not that surprising. Is it tactful? No. Is it moral? Maybe not. Desperate? Of course, but none of it matters.
It’s not like Madrid just suddenly appeared this year, asking for Cristiano’s signature. Don’t even get me started on that pathetic case sent to FIFA from Alex Ferguson either. If Ronaldo signs for Madrid in part because of their constant public coveting of him, then Madrid won the dirty game.
In the end, tactics don’t matter, and if Manchester can’t hold onto its prize asset because another club constantly states its wish to sign him, United have to look inward and examine why the player doesn’t want to stay in the first place.
4. "It’s fine, United will be just as good if not better with Ronaldo on his way." Don’t sound like downtrodden ex-boyfriend convinced that they will be "just as happy learning to be independent."
The raw facts are, Ronaldo has been a huge part of the United set up, and losing him will set them back. Will they replace him? Probably. Will they be just as good? Right now probably not, in time, of course they will. United will come back just fine, you can count on that. But it’s going to be a gap for the short run. Be honest.
4.1. (Related to 4.) "He’s not that good anyways." Could that argument sound any more juvenile? Of course he’s that good. Best in the world? Who knows, I personally throw my hat in Kaka’s corner for that one. But enough with the slander.
You know how good he is.
I apologize for sounding off a bit like a rant today, but I’m sick and tired of Manchester United and all their fans pointing the finger at everybody but themselves. Yes I am a Madrid fan. No, I don’t want Ronaldo at the club. But I’m just so sick of listening to United fans make excuses, whether he does end up in Spain or not.
So, United fans: enough. Suck it up. Nobody else wants to hear it anymore.
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3 months ago
Good article I agree with most of what you are saying but I will correct you on one thing.Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world for the most important thing success for everthing else it is manchester united.A poll has been taken and united are the most supported club around the world so I think you'll find more peole dream of playing for united.
from 3 months ago
I don't think that poll got everywhere mate. Honestly, in South America, where the world's best players come from, it's either Barza or Madrid. End of story.United is nowhere to be seen.
from 3 months ago
There is an easy way too see who is right.Which team sells the most shirts round the world? A lot of argentinians and brazilians support madrid because their best players play there but to say Manchester United are nowhere in South America is taking it a bit far.I've got family in peru and i've met many Manchester united,Liverpool even the odd old timer Nottingham forest fans when i've visited there.
from 3 months ago
That's fair enough Anthony, but how many of those fans can't afford to pay for shirts? I'm not playing devil's advocate here, but United can't match up to Barza or Madrid in South America. I'm sure you've met plenty of fans and whatnot, but I'd argue that even Barza has a bigger following in SA than Madrid, but whatever the case, it's not Manchester. I'm not saying there aren't the pockets of fans, like there are everywhere, but not the mass following, in a major epicenter of the footballing world.
3 months ago
cudnt agree any more with u
:)
3 months ago
Finally on the right track today. I, for one, believe that Cristiano is the best, Kaka doesn't come close. But everything else you said is more or less spot on. Good to see a different point of view than the whining bitching Man UTD one.
3 months ago
I am a Manchester United fan and just wanna say what a fantastic article!
I have said from the start that we should cash in on Ronaldo if he wants to go. I'm not bitter or angry or bothered that he may consider Madrid a bigger club- to be honest they're the most successful club in Europe so really they are the biggest
Manchester United stand to make a lot of money whilst being able to be shot of the worlds biggest ego!
If he goes all i'll say is thanks for two brilliant seasons and some great memories. I am fairly confident he will never play as well again as he did this season- 42 goals will be hard to replicate, although he'll still be a great player. Manchester united isn't one player and they'll still be successful in the future, whilst Ronaldo will also win trophies at Madrid.
It does annoy me slightly when fans say he hasnt shown any loyalty, but to be honest loyalty is pretty much a thing of the past in the game right now and every one nows this...
from 3 months ago
First Manchester United fan that makes sense!
3 months ago
Great article, by the way. I agree with you on all accounts. As a Chelsea fan I will be sad if Lamps and Drogba leave but I will be fine if they leave, because the team will be happier.
3 months ago
i agree with you all, but not on " He’s not a youth player, United bought him from Sporting, a major Portuguese club whose players are raided every single year by clubs like United."
in his early years with united, ronaldo was only about step overs and running down the wing. he was so immature in his play. And without sir alex guidance he would never ever reached the place he is now.
there is an interview with a former united player Macari that he says exactly what i mean:
Macari, who played over 300 games for United, believes that without Sir Alex Ferguson's guidance Ronaldo would not have reached the level he is at today.
"He will be disappointed because I think he will be feeling that Ronaldo's rise to fame was partly down to him and Carlos Queiroz," he said. "Partly down to his team mates and partly down to the Manchester United fans who have supported him week in week out.
"You don't become a great player overnight just because you have the talent, you have to feel at home at the club you're at and all those people I've just mentioned have made him feel comfortable."
3 months ago
i agree with you all, but not on " He’s not a youth player, United bought him from Sporting, a major Portuguese club whose players are raided every single year by clubs like United." in his early years with united, ronaldo was only about step overs and running down the wing. he was so immature in his play. And without sir alex guidance he would never ever reached the place he is now.
there is an interview with a former united player Macari that he says exactly what i mean:
Macari, who played over 300 games for United, believes that without Sir Alex Ferguson's guidance Ronaldo would not have reached the level he is at today. "He will be disappointed because I think he will be feeling that Ronaldo's rise to fame was partly down to him and Carlos Queiroz," he said. "Partly down to his team mates and partly down to the Manchester United fans who have supported him week in week out. "You don't become a great player overnight just because you have the talent, you have to feel at home at the club you're at and all those people I've just mentioned have made him feel comfortable."
3 months ago
Just admit that you want ronaldo in your club and quite whining like a "man utd" fan.
3 months ago
Absolutely hilarious, some of the comments on this post are quite comical. If we were to listen to some of the comments in here, we would be lead to believe that Cristiano was created, embryonically out of SAF's evil football laboratory. The fact is, Cristiano was already a huge talent and that is why SAF flew to Portugal to get him in the first place. Manchester paid the highest ever transfer fee of £12.24 million at the time, a world record for a teenager at the time. Cristiano has always been a phenomenal footballer, in spite of and in absence of SAF. He would have reached the point that he is now in any club, the history that he had before Man Utd speak for itself.
Everyone likes to point to step-over this and step-over that as some sort of proof that Cristiano wasn't a developed footballer. First off, he wasn't developed because he was a young boy when he was led to Manchester. Second, his step-overs, whether you like it or not, have scored many goals and won many a game for Man Utd. Third, much of Cristiano's success has come from the fact that he usually practices 1 extra hour after the rest of the Man Utd squad head for the pubs. That's right, and he doesn't smoke nor drink. He is an example of the perfect image of what a footballer should be.
Stop giving SAF credit for Cristiano's ability, which in turn is a pathetic attempt to stroke one's own ego by intoning that England created Cristiano, That is a F@king joke if I've ever seen one. Everything that he's become has been a testament to his hard work and commitment to the game. His wanting to prove a nation of xenophobes and hypocrites wrong (which is the obscenity in which English Media present themselves), gave him fuel and ambition to be what his is today.
Cristiano had scored 8 goals in 39 games his first year, giving the world a taste of what wonderful talent he has always been.
Here are some stats for you to dwell on:
* PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2008
* PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2007
* PFA Young Player of the Year: 2007
* PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2007
* PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2005-2006, 2006-2007
* Barclays Player of the Season: 2006-2007
* Football Writers’ Association Award: 2007
* Barclays Player of the Month: November 2006, December 2006, January 2008, March 2008
* PFA Fans’ Player of the Month: October 2006, February 2007
* Portuguese Sports Personality: 2006
* Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2007
* Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2003-2004, 2006-2007, 2007-2008
* Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year: 2006-2007, 2007-2008
* FIFPro World XI: 2006-2007
* UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2007
* UEFA European Championship 2004: Team of the Tournament
* European Footballer of the Year - Ballon d’Or:
o 2nd place: 2007
* Onze d’Or
o 2nd place: 2007
* FIFA World Player of the Year:
o 3rd place: 2007
* FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
* Goal of the Year Award 2008
Special Achievements
* One of only two players to have won both the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year awards in the same year, the other being Andy Gray in 1977.
* Also won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award, becoming the first player to win all three Professional Footballers Association awards in one season.
* Only the third player in Premier League history to win back-to-back Barclays Player of the Month awards, and the first since the 1995-1996 season.
* Holds the Premier League record for most goals scored in one season by a midfielder, having scored 17 times during the 2006-2007 Premier League campaign. (Unofficially he has already broken this record since, as of May 3rd, 2008, Ronaldo has scored 30 times in the 2007-2008 league campaign. However, the official total will not be registered until the end of the season.)
* One of only two players to feature in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for both the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, the other being Steven Gerrard
from 3 months ago
You lost me at that rest of the squad head to the pub do you really believe the rest of the team smoke and drink? Let me also correct you ronaldo scored 6 goals in 40 games in his first season,9 in 50 second season and 12 in 47 in his third and let me assure you he was a very,very,very long way from the player he is now.I been in old trafford watching him being overshadowed by rooney,until last season,many times a player who despite being in manchester a year less,playing a similair position and not being the teams penalty or free kick taker has only scored 15 goals less.
3 months ago
A couple of points that need to be added to the comment above:
SAF had offered Cristiano the number 7, Bekham's old Man Utd number even before Cristiano joined Manchester (Anyone with half a brain can comprehend the significance), but just in case you aren't able, It means that SAF saw in Cristiano the future of Manchester.
Second point. It is well known that all the mentoring that Cristiano received was by his country man and second in command Carlos Queiroz, who's been Cristiano's father figure at Manchester. If any one of you Scousers want to credit a man for Cristiano's success, then give it to Queiroz, although we all know that you won't, because deep down you know that Cristiano is Cristiano because of Cristiano.
from 3 months ago
Cristiano`s only real international title is UEFA Chaps league 2008.
All the rest are local honours at local clubs that any footballer has loads of.
Also the only player of the year title that means anything is the one that says FIFA player of the year which he does not have but may well achieve this year making it one title and one honor.
By the way you forgot to add to your list above the `Granny foodstamp player of the week award 2007` and the `Hotdog eater who dives New York award 2005` etc.
3 months ago
Absolutely brilliant article. My Pick of the Day!!!
3 months ago
this guy writing the article is a real madrid fan....................... ulterior motives...
from 3 months ago
I dont care if he does have other motives, he hit the nail square on the head and siad what needed to be said. Even many United supporters agree.
3 months ago
A well formulated argument. It's probably convincing to the general reader.
But for the majority of fans (in fact I'm tempted to say all) I'd say that your observations have been misconstrued.
Most of us actually feel the way that you described in the first few paragraphs (I DO hate his attitude).
3 months ago
i would rather agree with jonathan that there's hardly any thing as loyalty in today's game. you will not find a Costacurta, a Maldini or a Giggs for that matter presently or in the future. Money Talks.
for mattus, you are right about the english media's hypocrisy and ronaldo's own ambitious drive. but then, the team you play for has to play some part in vindicating your talent and the coaching staff who keeps you at optimum levels of confidence and fitness.
he might have been a wonderful player at some of the other big clubs but we can't really discredit manchester united for what they have done for this guy based on such frivolous grounds of assumptions. but, am i disappointed by his attitude? i would say yes. but i am not hurt. he's a professional footballer and has the right to think about his future as he sees best. it will be hard to replace him, there's no question about it. life goes on and United have certainly faced much bitter setbacks.
great article though
3 months ago
This is a great article. As a Real fan that is torn over Ronaldo—he is a great player but I don't know if the best thing for the future of the club is to spend 80 million euros on one player—I think this article touches on important issues.
One thing that gets me is this loyalty issue. It makes me sad the lack of loyalty that is shown these days in football. But in the world that we currently live in where footballers make so much money and money plays such an important role it is hard to see players acting any other way. Too bad really.
Overall I just think this saga needs to end.
3 months ago
Super article. If Ronaldo does leave Man Utd, there will be a massive gap in the team in terms of his pace, power, vision and goals. I'm not so sure that he will be of much use to them even if he stays, so overall being an Arsenal fan - I'm ok either way!
3 months ago
i think that if he wants to leave we should let him, but he needs to remember that contract extension he signed last year. he can't just up and decide that he wants to be playing for real madrid next season as if he owns the club, man utd needs time to scout for players to replace him and adjust the style of play. if a suitable replacement can be found before next season then great, let him go, but if not he's just gonna have to live up to his word for one more season.
3 months ago
I totally agree with you on point number two however.
This notion that somehow playing in England makes him a better player or made into what he is- is a complete load of bull.
Great story overall. Trust me friend - he is overrated and Real is better off without him.
from 3 months ago
premiership winner may be a "local title" but either that or la liga are the best local titles in the world and there aren't loads of players that have them.I personally feel winning the league is a much more convincing title than the world cup,champions league etc where the line between winning and losing is so thin and a certain amount of luck can swing it either way.If you win the league your the best team full stop.
from 3 months ago
The 200 million people who live in Brazil might disagree with you on that.
By the way are those naked people on your picture dude showing us their monties?
from 3 months ago
Well maybe the brazil team are one of the exceptions they have won their cups pretty convincingly but not every team does.Thats best,law and charlton the holy trinity!
3 months ago
Well I'm glad this article sparked so much positive debate! Thanks everybody for your comments, and indulging me. This was purely academic, no hard feelings, love to football fans everywhere... except you dirty Barza scum, no matter how good of a mood I'm in, I'll never give you any flowers. But everybody else, thanks alot :-P
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