Why David Moyes Might Think Twice Before Signing Cristiano Ronaldo

There are few managers in the world who wouldn't jump at the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

In any other era he would be considered the best player on the planet by a distance. It's just his luck that he was born in the same generation as Lionel Messi. 

But history will still remember him alongside Diego Maradona and Pele as one of the best the game has seen, with his name mentioned in discussions about the greatest ever XIs. 

And with a future like that, who wouldn't want a piece of his present? 

He's as near to guaranteed success as any one man can be. Any team that includes him would score more goals, win more games and lift more trophies.

It's not often that type of player becomes available, especially at their peak. Ronaldo, at 28, is at the height of his powers, but stories persist about a move back to Manchester United.

There is no doubt that United are interested, just as they are interested in all good players. But as each day passes without Ronaldo signing a new deal at Real Madrid, speculation about a move back to England increases.

But if there is one manager who might think twice about signing Ronaldo, and there aren't many, it may be David Moyes.

The former Everton manager is faced with the almost impossible task of putting his own stamp on a club that has been run by Sir Alex Ferguson for 26 years. 

Sir Alex transformed United from sleeping giant to European power and now Moyes has to carry on that tradition of success, but with his own twist.

He's not been brought in to hold the wheel while Ferguson moves upstairs. He was appointed to front a new era, and maybe even take United to a new level.

Like Ferguson, Ronaldo represents a piece of United's past. 

They were both Old Trafford greats, and history will remember them as such, but there's an argument that their time has been and gone.

There is little doubt that Ferguson was still capable of adding to his trophy haul before he retired, just as Ronaldo would no doubt make United a better team.

But Moyes is overseeing a fresh start with his own ideas and hopefully his own players, if he can bring them in before the September 2 deadline.

It will take time for him to make his mark at a club that has come to personify Sir Alex over the last quarter of century. For that reason, he might see Ronaldo as a step in the wrong direction.

THERE are few managers in the world who wouldn't jump at the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

In any other era he would be considered the best player on the planet by a distance. It's just his luck that he was born in the same generation at Lionel Messi. 

But history will still remember him alongside Diego Maradona and Pele as one of the best the game has seen, with his name mentioned in discussions about the greatest ever XIs. 

And with a future like that, who wouldn't want a piece of his present? 

He's as near to guaranteed success as any one man can be. Any team which includes him would score more goals, win more games and lift more trophies.

It's not often that type of player becomes available, especially at their peak. Ronaldo, at 28, is at the height of his powers but stories persist about a move back to Manchester United.

There is no doubt that United are interested, just as they are interested in all good players. But as each day passes without Ronaldo signing a new deal at Real Madrid, speculation about a move back to England increases.

But if there is one manager who might think twice about signing Ronaldo, and there aren't many, it may be David Moyes.

The former Everton manager is faced with the almost impossible task of putting his own stamp on a club run by Sir Alex Ferguson for 26 years. 

Sir Alex transformed the club from sleeping giant to European power and now Moyes has to carry on that tradition of success, but with his own twist.

He's not been brought in to hold the wheel while Ferguson moves upstairs. He was appointed to front a new era, and maybe even take United to a new level.

But like Ferguson, Ronaldo represents a piece of United's past. 

They were both Old Trafford greats, and history will remember them like that, but there's an argument that their time has been and gone.

There is little doubt that Ferguson is still capable of adding to his trophy haul, just as Ronaldo would no doubt make United a better team.

But Moyes is overseeing a fresh start with his own players  - if he can bring them in before the September 2 deadline - and his own ideas.

It will take time for him to make his mark at a club that has come to personify Sir Alex over the last quarter of century. For that reason, he might see Ronaldo as a step in the wrong direction.