After weeks of tedious speculation, the debate rages on. Will he go? Will he stay?
New articles spring up everyday giving quotes from unnamed sources. One thing is certain in all this though, Ronaldo wants to go. Who can blame him? He isn't English, he isn't even Northern European.
He is Portuguese, a flashy Portuguese man, in fact.
The climate and lack of glitz and glamour in Manchester have probably never appealed to him though the latter has probably helped his development immensely.
No, Ronaldo wants to go to Madrid. This is a club that is currently not the best, nor richest, nor most supported club in the world. However Madrid is the most successful club in european football and the benchmark for all the top european clubs, which, for me, is precisely why he won't be going anywhere.
After all the millions of words written on this subject, I believe one major thing has been overlooked. This situation is a first for Sir Alex.
Many great players have left Sir Alex and Manchester United, but never under their own steam and never because they thought they were moving on to greener pastures.
Ince, Beckham, and Van Nistelrooy among others left in their prime, but only because they were shown the door. Players such as Cantona, Keane, and Shmeichel left to wind down their careers or retire all together.
There has never been a problem replacing great players at Old Trafford, but this is something new namely because no one told Ronaldo he could leave. The global game has made a boy from Madeira Manchester United's star player.
A place they probably dream of playing under a hot sun in the Bernabeu, not grey clouds at Old Trafford.
So, to get to the point, the question for me isn't, "will he go?" or, "won't he go?" it's how Sir Alex will react to a situation he has never had to deal with before. Anybody who knows a little bit about Sir Alex, and has an eye for the big picture, can answer that for themselves.
Selling Ronaldo would set a precedent for a situation that, in the modern game, will no doubt only happen time and time again. I believe Sir Alex and the Glazers will see this as a fight for Manchester United's place in world football.
To sell the world's best player would make them the world biggest shop window for all of Europe's super clubs. It would send the message that players stay at Manchester United unless they reach a certain level of greatness, on and off the pitch (let's not forget that whatever Ronaldo's transfer fee would be it will be dwarfed by the profits made from merchandising over the course of his contract).
What happens if Ronaldo goes this summer and Tevez plays even better next year? Does that mean he goes to AC Milan?
My personal opinion is that Ronaldo will be kept for one or two more seasons and then be sold on Manchester United's terms. I also believe Ronaldo (or his agent) think this is a strong possibility, which is probably what's stopping him from burning his bridges altogether.
I wouldn't expect much trouble from Ronaldo either, a player with his ego is never going to under-perform and he has as much to lose from sitting on the bench all season as Manchester United.
Even the hottest property in football can cool pretty quickly (look at Ronaldinho) and that won't bode well for any future move to Madrid. I think Sir Alex would see selling Ronaldo as good as admitting Manchester United are second best. Can there really be any one out there that thinks he would do that?
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3 months ago
I, pretty spot on. SAF always says we are the best, and as an organisation, a club for development, for support, and so on, he is right. Real Madrid are who they are because of the Bank of Madrid previously wiping out their debts, and also because they played in the European Cup when it was new and fresh, and nowhere near as big it is now. What would have happened had the Babes survived? It would have been us sitting at the top of the pile, and not Madrid.
I hope he stays, but have total faith in Sir Alex to remedy the void if he goes. When Eric received his eight month ban Sir Alex flew to France to speak to him and make sure he played on. The reason he gave was that it was the best decision for Manchester United, and he didn't care about anyone else.
The same applies here. SAF doesn't give a monkey's about any other team other than where he is at now, and he will always do what is best for the club, not the cater to players wishes.
I believe Ronaldo will stay, but there is only really Martin O'neill I can think of with the same bloody-mindedness of the boss in putting the club first. I dread the day when Mr Ferguson walks away.
from 2 months ago
I agree with you when you say you have faith in Sir Alex sorting out the problem. He is the man to make Ronaldo realise how privilaged he is to be playing for a club like United and that going to Real Madrid is not the right move at this time in his career. The only thing that worries me is the fact that like you state in your comment when Eric had his problems Sir Alex flew out to Frence to reassure Eric how important he was to United.
But look at Ronaldo now, he has just had his ankle operation in Holland then gone back to Portugal to rest. To me this doesnt look good as he is far way closaer to Madrid than Manchester. Why hasnt he had to return to Manchester, this way he would be surrounded by the United family and surely this way he would realisde exactly what he would be losing if he left Manchester.
3 months ago
Yeah!, SAF is THE man!. Selling Ronaldo to Rm wl translate to be 2nd best in world club football in terms of riches, best supported, most famous & branding, not to mention the many players tt r potentially poise to be as great if not better than Ronaldo!. It's a slap on the face & admitting tt Man Utd can & wl never be as great as RM. Fingers crossed, The Glazers wl be supporting SAF all the way & deny RM their shameful & arrogant way of tapping players not just in Man Utd but to other teams as well!. Just love it to see SAF & Man Utd tellin' RM to piss off & show them tt they are not to be bullied like in previous teams tt had players hijacked by the shameless RM!.
3 months ago
It's not the first time Sir Alex has experienced something like this...Imagine you have a matchwinner in your team..who scored 43 goals in one season..was important in the side winning the UCL and the EPL..would you let a proven matchwinner leave?
A proven matchwinner....thousands come to watch him..millions buy his shirt..there are many persepectives and why fix what's not broken...they won the double!
from 3 months ago
I hope i'm right i'll end up looking pretty stupid if i'm not!
3 months ago
The diver and Moscow penalty loser will go nowhere. He has a signed and valid contract for 4 more years.So what ?
3 months ago
i lov ronaldo
if ronaldo wanna leave i think he should choose his desires and play to his strengths so i think ronaldo should choose a new level o football but if he goes they dont broadcast them games in australia coz they do those english premier league games and not those games
so i think ronaldo will always b in me mind but u know no one likes to b put under pressure by the media so let him choose by his free will and the only reason man utd wanna kp him is coz he is really only the star player which is the only reason i really lik man utd
stop bossin him round
from 2 months ago
If you only get to watch the Premier League then surely you will have seen how important Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra and Browny were. Just because he was scoring the goals doesnt mean he was the only star in our side. He might have been scoring the goals but they were just as good doing there jobs by keeping the goals going in at our end.
And as for letting Ronaldo make his own choice, I thought he did that very recently when he signed a 4 year contract to stay at United. I think its very harsh to say United are bossing him about more like Ronaldo messing United about.
3 months ago
I hope it will go as you predict. To me it's a good analysis and it looks fair: you made a point.
At Ajax we're in the sad position that all players will leave, once they've developed in the Amsterdam team. At least a team like Manchester should be able to say "no" and make players stick to their contracts.
from 3 months ago
Thanks I hope so too.Ajax shouldn't be in that position they're one of the most sucessful clubs in europe.Lets hope they start challenging for european trophies again soon.They've produced some of the best players in the game.
from 2 months ago
I was only talking a couple of days ago about the Dutch game and how sad it must be for fans over there. With the players you have produced time and time again you could easily have one of the best leagues if you managed to keep hold of them. It must be hard for you knowing that as soon as one of your players show potential they are bought off you and move to another european league.
Maybe the Premier league should be looking at your youth training because your obviously doing something we cant acheive.
3 months ago
Very well written article, I agree 100%.
Well done Anthony
from 3 months ago
Cheers.
3 months ago
its all good manchster united saying he aint leaving but it isnt over yet. manu fans are to stubern and cant hack that he wants to leave ecspecialy alex fergerson. when things dont go his way he saolks like this. Beckham for example. ive learnt one thing over the span of the ronaldo saga and its that united think they are bigger then the game. they think that just because your manu the rules and the eventuality of the game dont apply to you. i hope manu keep winging about it because it proves how silly they realy are !!!
from 3 months ago
Whats Beckham got to do with it.He got sacked.Why don't you just admit you hate united because your jealous of them.If you can't present a balanced arguement don't present one at all.
from 2 months ago
I totally agree with Anthony and not for the simple fact I am a United supporter. United are saying he isnt leaving because the simple fact is he isnt going anywhere apart from Carrington when hes fit to resume training. When he signed a 4 year contract, United have held him to that. And you might think Ronaldo will sulk and not play to his full abilities because he hasnt got what he wants. But Ronaldo is the type of player that loves the limelight so playing badly because he hasnt got what he wants is out of the question.
Cant believe you have tried to use Beckham as an example. Everyone knows he was shown the door and didnt go on his own accord.
Maybe you should concentrate on your own team and whats going on there. You have more than your fair share of players leaving you. WHYS THAT?
From where im looking its you thats doing all the winging and you sound like them lot down the M62
3 months ago
looks at all those reads, first one too! nice one mate
from 3 months ago
I think the subject matter did the work not really my writing skills.Cheers anyway micheal.
3 months ago
Yea..Let ronaldo go so tat wen manchester faces real madrid in any euro cup,y nt man united teach him a lesson so tat he will knws wats will happen..Cum on man,ronaldo was jus a noob/loser in otha club b4..w/o ferguson,he wnt be so famous 2day..w/o manchester united he wnt be even holding any thropies...he wnt be stil in d otha club kissing wid his gf,nt thropies and footballer of d year..duhh..tink bout it..
3 months ago
Although Anthony has made a good point that Fergie is not the type to lie down lightly,and it would be admitting inferiority to Real, I think he has failed to mention fergie's understanding of 'harmony' within a football team.Anyone within the Carrington rumourmill would be able to tell you about a certain training ground bust up between Nistleroy and Ronaldo, which most people believe subsequently lead to Nistleroy's departure(the sulking on the bench was only a small part).It was the imbalance that Nistleroy created in the team that Fergie didnt need,especially not someone upsetting what he believed to be his future star player.I think Ferguson has probably only ever had one player he truly 'liked',Roy Keane,and that was because they both as vile as each other.Even Roy keane was eventually sold for the 'harmony' of the team as we all know Keane was getting fed up with certain underperforming young players.So although I agree with Anthony's philosophy,I do still think the ball could be in Ronaldo's court.Should he decide to act up at training , it could still be feasable that Ferguson would sell him,citing bad behaviour.Anyone else notice Ronaldo's petulance towards the end of the season when being subbed, and being rested?I think there could be a prickly streak in that boy Ronaldo.Remember the wink?How do you deal with players that are being awkward?Spank him?Fine him?How much?Drop him?Let 70 millon pounds sit on the bench?The traditional method is to sell them.No player is bigger than the club is Fergie's motto.Ferguson has been known to cut his own nose,remember the racehorse fiasco?But not even a stubborn scot like him would see the point in letting all that money stew on the bench.Mind you, here's a scenario;August 16 Ronaldo sits in stands,and the next week,and the next week.August the 31st Ronaldo sold to Real for record fee.Fergie gets the best of both worlds,prove a point that no-one is too special,and gets a shed load of cash with improved value because Real are desperate to sign him as soon as possible and will pay almost anything to get him before the window closes.Personally,i dont see the doom and gloom about him leaving.Am i supposed to believe that they wont win anything without him?Am i supposed to believe they will score 42 less goals next season?No, of course not.No, they wont have the best winger in the world,yes,there is no direct replacement for him,no,Messi will not go there,but they will adapt.They will play a different way,maybe we might see more of Rooney this season and generally more action through the middle.Huntelaar or Berbatov could get 25 or more,easy.Tevez could get finally get a better chance of developing the understanding with Rooney that was blossoming in the first half of last season.One player does not make a team.I seem to remember it was a certain ginger guy that took them to the champions final.I remember it was a welsh wizard that scored the winner that wrapped up the league.I remember it was a tall dutchman that saved that Chelsea penalty.I remember they had two giants at the back that formed the best defense in league. 70 million quid could seriously strengthen a team and despite Fergie's recent claims that he is not looking to buy many players, I believe it is wishful thinking.How long can Scholes and Giggs genuinely contribute?Is Vand de saar 37 or 38?Will Anderson be ready?Is Nani a wildcard?Where's the thoroughbred striker?Where's the other quality defenders fighting for places and that will cover for kamakaze warriors like Vidic?I seem to remember it was a makeshift defense that fell apart against Milan in '07,and also threatened to wreck the end of this season again.Will Wes Brown always cover for centrebacks?Is he Gary Neville's true successor?70 million would go a long way to solve some of these problems.
from 3 months ago
I agree with what your saying mostly but I still don't fergie will sell.The clubs standing in football is at stake.As for harmony, its hard to say without knowing what goes on but I doubt ronaldo's fallen out with anyone and he definately won't be inhibitting the way anyones playing like keane and van nistelrooy were.Well maybe rooney unintentionally he gave him the ball in the last third far too often last season but you can see why when you look at some of his poor finishing of late.
3 months ago
Although Anthony has made a good point that Fergie is not the type to lie down lightly,and it would be admitting inferiority to Real, I think he has failed to mention fergie's understanding of 'harmony' within a football team.Anyone within the Carrington rumourmill would be able to tell you about a certain training ground bust up between Nistleroy and Ronaldo, which most people believe subsequently lead to Nistleroy's departure(the sulking on the bench was only a small part).It was the imbalance that Nistleroy created in the team that Fergie didnt need,especially not someone upsetting what he believed to be his future star player.I think Ferguson has probably only ever had one player he truly 'liked',Roy Keane,and that was because they both as vile as each other.Even Roy keane was eventually sold for the 'harmony' of the team as we all know Keane was getting fed up with certain underperforming young players.So although I agree with Anthony's philosophy,I do still think the ball could be in Ronaldo's court.Should he decide to act up at training , it could still be feasable that Ferguson would sell him,citing bad behaviour.Anyone else notice Ronaldo's petulance towards the end of the season when being subbed, and being rested?I think there could be a prickly streak in that boy Ronaldo.Remember the wink?How do you deal with players that are being awkward?Spank him?Fine him?How much?Drop him?Let 70 millon pounds sit on the bench?The traditional method is to sell them.No player is bigger than the club is Fergie's motto.Ferguson has been known to cut his own nose,remember the racehorse fiasco?But not even a stubborn scot like him would see the point in letting all that money stew on the bench.Mind you, here's a scenario;August 16 Ronaldo sits in stands,and the next week,and the next week.August the 31st Ronaldo sold to Real for record fee.Fergie gets the best of both worlds,prove a point that no-one is too special,and gets a shed load of cash with improved value because Real are desperate to sign him as soon as possible and will pay almost anything to get him before the window closes.Personally,i dont see the doom and gloom about him leaving.Am i supposed to believe that they wont win anything without him?Am i supposed to believe they will score 42 less goals next season?No, of course not.No, they wont have the best winger in the world,yes,there is no direct replacement for him,no,Messi will not go there,but they will adapt.They will play a different way,maybe we might see more of Rooney this season and generally more action through the middle.Huntelaar or Berbatov could get 25 or more,easy.Tevez could get finally get a better chance of developing the understanding with Rooney that was blossoming in the first half of last season.One player does not make a team.I seem to remember it was a certain ginger guy that took them to the champions final.I remember it was a welsh wizard that scored the winner that wrapped up the league.I remember it was a tall dutchman that saved that Chelsea penalty.I remember they had two giants at the back that formed the best defense in league. 70 million quid could seriously strengthen a team and despite Fergie's recent claims that he is not looking to buy many players, I believe it is wishful thinking.How long can Scholes and Giggs genuinely contribute?Is Vand de saar 37 or 38?Will Anderson be ready?Is Nani a wildcard?Where's the thoroughbred striker?Where's the other quality defenders fighting for places and that will cover for kamakaze warriors like Vidic?I seem to remember it was a makeshift defense that fell apart against Milan in '07,and also threatened to wreck the end of this season again.Will Wes Brown always cover for centrebacks?Is he Gary Neville's true successor?70 million would go a long way to solve some of these problems.
3 months ago
Ronaldo won't go anywhere because SAF realizes that Cristiano is winning games for him and making him look good. SAF wants to retire on a high note, and that means having Cristiano scoring goals and breaking records. Without Cristiano leading Man Utd, SAF will have an uphill battle. The real key to Cristiano staying at Man Utd is in fact SAF's ego!!!!!
from 3 months ago
Your right saf owes his career to ronaldo.History shows us he would win nothing without him.Yeah right!
3 months ago
No one said anything about career. Without Cristiano leading Man Utd last season, they would not have finished as high as they have. SAF was looking like a genius but the fact is any good manager would have done just as well with that quality team and Cristiano. Whether you want to admit it or not is pointless!!!
from 3 months ago
Could any good manager have built that team or motivated that team.Lets be clear ronaldo is a great player but if he had never been signed then somone else would have.Fergie has had many teams finishing high without ronaldo leading them.Questioning his quality as a manager after all these years makes me think that maybe you are crazy!
3 months ago
To be honest, I think CR is going to Real Madrid...!
from 3 months ago
We won't know till august 31st.
3 months ago
good article.
newton's point about the 'harmony' that SAF maintains at all costs is a quite valid one. there were times last season when ronnie's ego was too perceptible, so i have my apprehensions about his desire to play for the club as a team man and not think that he is the club. we haven't had and we can't afford to have a MR. Man United like chelsea. and if SAF hints even a trifle of it seeping into the team, that ronaldo is now 'the team', he wouldn't hesitate to sell him. but untill and unless ronaldo's presence doesn't have ill effects on the 'dressing room', SAF won't sell him.
and mattus, this from you ( any good manager would have done just as well with that quality team and Cristiano) is really making me laugh out loud. now going by this statement of yours implies that money can buy success. you buy a quality team, build your own galacticos, bring a mourinho or a capello and damn! you are going to cring the quadruple. real madrid didn't win a single trophy for FIVE years with their team of superstars. why? i think you know the answer. its the stability of the dressing room that a strong manager ensures. SAF has been at the club 22 years now but what real didn't have was a strong manager who really knows what it is to be at such a massive club as tge boss of their first team and how to really deal with those superstars and their egos. thats what a good manager does, he doesn't always ensure that he wins the game for the team but rather the team plays to win the game for HIM.
from 3 months ago
Thanks.I get what your saying about his ego.He has a tendency not to celebrate his teammates goals.He even celebrated the european cup win on his own! but as long as the other players can tolerate him I can too!
2 months ago
Cristiano wants to go to Real, I think its hard for Sir Alex to let go him go why would anyone want to lose their key player . But i think Sir Alex generally cares for Ronni. He is like a father to him, but if he wants to go to Real let him go. Even fathers have to let their beloved son go sometimes. I think Ronni should stay @ United but he is very determine individual and what Renoldo wants he usually gets, he is a like a rich, spoilled brat and their is one person i have to blame and that is SIR ALEX. Everyone knows Cristiano is Sir Alex favourite player in United, i sence all the players are aware of it & are sometimes envious of the realtionship between the two. It will be a mistake if he goes to Real, but Cristiano is acting very childish and i think lots of people are losing respect for him. it is like sad soap that doesn't look like it has an end. I hope they sort it out and Cristiano stay at united, he need the team and Sir Alex. Renoldo depends on sir alex, he is like a child in need of babysitting, just take an example of the vacation Ronni is taking in LA, his father Alex send a bodyguard with him so he won't misbehaviour. I love Cristiano, he is the best player in the world but i am tired of this fight, stay with Sir Alex you are gonna be ok Cristiano.
about 1 month ago
I TOLD YOU SO!!!
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