Cristiano Ronaldo Will Leave Manchester United for Real Madrid

Manchester United's web site has confirmed what seemed to be the inevitable. While it is only early June, United winger Cristiano Ronaldo looks to be on his way to Real Madrid via an 80-million-pound deal.

While there is something to be said for Ronaldo finally getting to realize his much-publicized "dream" of playing for Real Madrid, he will be sorely missed.

Ronaldo joined United in 2003 after the Red Devils played an offseason friendly against Sporting Lisbon. According to Sir Alex Ferguson, the entire team was impressed, and Ferguson quickly had Ronaldo signed.

He replaced David Beckham in both the No. 7 shirt and on the right wing of Manchester United's attack. His first goal for United came on what is now his trademark free kick against Portsmouth.

He truly grew as a player every season he was at United. He oozes emotion on the pitch. We saw it early on in his United career when he was inconsolable after losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup Final after United had completely dominated the game.

Sure, he was criticized for being a diver, but rarely was his diving so bad that it warranted preemptive yellow cards. Often that reputation hurt him when he had legitimate penalty claims that were turned away.

At the end of the 2006-2007 season, in which Ronaldo found the back of the net 23 times, he won himself a 120,000-pound-a-week new contract. Many United fans would keep him at the club into the next decade. His 23 goals from a winger was impressive, but United fans wouldn't be totally awestruck until the next season.

The 2007-08 season was clearly the best of the young player's career. Ronaldo found net 42 times and helped his team to a Barclays Premier League and Champions League double. His performance led to nearly every personal award available to him, including the coveted FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Throughout the season he dazzled with goals from free kicks, back-heels, and the like. With that performance, speculation of a summer move to Real Madrid started to come hot and heavy.

The summer of 2008 was filled with transfer rumors, with Real Madrid's Ramon Calderon and Sir Alex Ferguson exchanging pleasantries all summer and into the next season. In the end, Ronaldo was forced to stay at United.

After sulking in his first few matches—although he scored in his first appearances for Manchester United in the 2008-09 season—Ronaldo slowly but surely returned to his world-class form.

During the '08-09 campaign, Ronaldo scored 26 goals and helped United to a trophy-filled season that included the FIFA Club World Cup, the Carling Cup, and the club's record-tying 18th League Championship. He also helped lead United to the UEFA Champions League Final in Rome, where they lost to Barcelona.

So now we are here. An 80-million-pound offer has been laid upon the table, which is just a few signatures away from being final. As a die-hard United fan and a fan of Cristiano's since he came to the club, it is hard to see him go.

While United fans like myself will have mixed emotions about this move, it must be said that Real Madrid was always his dream club. Don't criticize his loyalty to United, as his accomplishments while there don't deserve it.

His totals: three league titles, two Carling Cups, one FA Cup, one Champions League Trophy, three Community Shields, and one FIFA Club World Cup. All told, that's 11 trophies, and that doesn't include the tremendous number of personal accolades he achieved while at the club.

While we await a statement from the player himself, I am sure he will be sad to leave United in many ways. To him we must say, "thank you," and wish him all the best at Madrid.