May 24
Revisiting the Ronaldo Debate
Sir Alex has recently said that Real Madrid has no moral issues whatsoever when it comes to approaching other players. If you want to read the whole thing click here [there is also a video excerpt of Fergie's press conference, for the same, in that page].
I touched upon Ronaldo’s “will he wont he” routine very briefly in earlier posts, but couldn’t devote enough space for it because of the Champions’ League hoopla. So here’s a more detailed account of what I think about the whole situation.
To get some perspective here, here are the facts: Ronaldo has never made secret, his intention to play in Spain someday. Also, ever since we won the Champions’ League he has been interviewed by almost every journalist in the European Union. So it really is hard answering the same questions put to him over and over again.
What is worrying about this trend though is that there have been too many contradicting remarks to the same questions. In some of them he says “I’ll stay” and in others it’s “I can’t promise” or “I’ll know next week”.
My question is this: why does Ronaldo have second thoughts about staying at the club for another season, at least? What does he want from the club? If it’s a big pay day, didn’t he just sign the contract last season? If it was for his ‘dream’, how difficult is it for a moment, especially amidst the euhoria of wining the CL trophy, to say that he’s staying just to assure fans, because they rightly deserve it.
As a personal opinion, I want Ronaldo at United for the next season at least. But his lack of commitment even for the short term is putting me off a bit; I’m fully aware that he’d want to move someday to Spain, but considering the way the club and the fans have backed him, I think United fans deserve a bit more than his current dilly-dallying.
And I would love to hear from all of you on this.
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Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (89)
Craig Mc (26)
Ian (18)
Sathya says – Post 22, Doubt that we’ll win the Champions League again next year !. Errr why is that then Sathya?. We got the taste for it now. As Hargo said to the players before the penalty shoot out in CL final – PICTURE IT LADS, and BELIEVE!.
King says – Post 3 – We have just won European cup, retained our title in PL, the structures are in place to achieve more success in Europe, United fans and the club LOVE Christiano. And you think Ronaldo cares about all that WHY Kings????.
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HIS MOTHER
As much of his persona has to do with flair, all I hear him speak of is the team and his part to play in it. I’m sure Fergie and the veterans have taught him some humility since joining the club. It makes me wonder how much of the Real Madrid Dream belongs to his mother. There’s no doubt that he seems torn between his options. But I think there may be some underlying conflict between making his mother happy and his own happiness. Everytime I hear of his mother it’s always a negative voice towards United and pleading with him to join her team. I wish this question were posed to him in an interview. I’m interested in what he wants and what his mother wants. This ought to be brought out in the open.
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The stakes are very high here. It’s not just about a transfer of a football player. I believe that if he left, the squad would find its way and deliver the goods but think about the other areas, and I’m not talking about t-shirt sales (we don’t need specific players to sell t-shirts, people buy the t-shirts for the United crest).
Think about the kids supporting United because of him (I’ve seen it happen, even here in Greece), think about the huge income that pathetic team from Madrid would generate, think about our reputation (a club that sells their best player doesn’t project a positive image).
And to those that blast the guy, keep in mind that he may still be a United player next year.
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Grognard: No chance in hell of that wanker coming back!! You seem to forget that Roman craves exciting, exhilarating, dynamic edge-of-your-seat attacking football and that was the reason why that fruitcake got fired in the first place. You just watch this space: Frank Rijkaard will link up with Ten Cate at Chelsea next season, though I’ll eat my hat if your theory is proved correct!
Fred: Sorry didn’t see those posts from you. You must have typed them while I was writing my response.
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James f, thats exactly what I think he is negotiating with United, his image rights. If they can reach agreement over that then he will be at OT next season and probably beyond.
But I will tell you this for nothing. I dont like the idea of any player no matter how good or important he is holding United to ransom. A dangerous precident could be set by indulging Ronaldo and I for one dont like it. This whole Ronaldo thing is starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth and call me old fashioned or not living in the real world or whatever, but I expect a bit more public loyalty and stated appreciation for United from Ronaldo and the longer he doesnt say it the more I could really start to dislike him.
New contract or not, the fans, the manager and everybody at the club deserves better from Ronaldo but I wont hold my breath waiting for it.
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another ronaldo interview , like 5 min old i think here it is
http://www.eecho.ie/news/story/?trs=mhgbmhmhgboj
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Exactly Fred. The only one who has the right to hold United to ransom is Sir Alex Ferguson (ok, he’s not a player). Not that he would ever do such a thing, of course. David Beckham was the last one who probably tried to do something like this and he ended up at MLS.
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ronaldos agent is giving him advice i beleive that he wants a further pay rise and is using “empty threats” to get it, i dont think he will go next season to state a quote he said that “he will definitely be at united next season”. Check sky sports news if u dont beleive me. in conclusion i beleive that he will be signing a further new contract extension in the coming weeks. May i also add that many football journalists, pundidts and former players have said that they also beleive he will stay at united for the rest of his career if not a long part of it. “he would be mad to go” as david platt has said also on skysports news. So guys dont worry we will be united with or without ronaldo
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Dan I feel your rage too. I feel so puzzled as to why Green is constantly overlooked in the England squad. How many people would choose Joe Lewis over Green in their team? Green has done a fantastic job at West Ham this year and if it werent for him they would of conceded so many more goals and probably been further down the table. I’m not saying he should be England number 1 but why on earth does he not got any sort of a chance to represent England
On the Ronaldo topic, I think if he left I would love it if he went to Barca just so Madrid couldnt have him
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james f, the difference between SAF and Ronaldo is that SAF is a man of the people who has not forgotten his roots. Now I dont know enough about Ronaldo to make a dogmatic comparison, but he strikes me as being self obsessed and someone who would benefit from a period working down in the shipyard in Glasgow like SAF did all those years ago.
A lot of these modern day players have no sense of the common man and the real world and its struggles and I personally find some of their attitudes disgusting
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grognard, i dont wont to disrespect FC, but picking a 20 year old league 2/1 keeper over experienced top flight keepers is just plain stupid in my opinion.
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Dan; When you achieve what Fabio Capello has achieved in the game, then and only then can you call a legendary manager stupid. I think he is a much better judge of talent than you are and nearly every player that has ever played the game in England started a division or two below the Prem. That doesn’t mean the lad is bad. It means that he just hasn’t arrived yet. After Capello turns the England program around and they are one of the favorites to lift the World Cup, I wonder if you will eat a little humble pie. Capello is a bloody genius in tactics and talent evaluation.
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It’s really getting ridiculous. £150 million for a player. Bah. Well, not saying that Ronaldo doesn’t worth that much but seriously ever since Roman bought Chelsea, he bought players at such ridiculous prices. This affected the entire transfer market where the players’ prices are inflated by God know how many folds like Carrick (I like Carrick but I don’t think he actually worth that much), Pepe and SHEVA. If and a big if Ronaldo were sold at that price….. man, I cannot imagine how much Benzema would cost us then.
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NINO; Don’t brush the possibility off so easily. Roman has learned from his mistakes and I think he now sees that playing the style he wants isn’t practical nor is it successful. Certainly United didn’t light up the CL in the knockout stage with offensive and entertaining football. They did what they needed to do to win. This is what Mourinho has always done and I think RA has seen the light. I think his return is at 50/50. Abramovich also wants to create stability in a team that wants to break apart at the seams. What better way to keep Drogba, Carvalho, Essien, Lampard etc than to bring back their hero. Otherwise the team will be in total chaos and may miss the window to sign a lot of players because Guus Hiddink won’t be available until after the EURO’s. If he chooses Rijkaard he needs to do it immediately before the player exodus. This will not be easy unless he hires back Mourinho and promises him a strong transfer kitty and a hands off approach from the owners box.
The fans of Chelski are in turmoil and certainly the sacking of Grant will cause even more chaos around Stamford Bridge than is needed. No player worth his price in brains will want to sign with a team that is so unsettled. A state of calm is needed and right now only one person can give them that calm. I will be more surprised if Mourinho is not hired back to be honest with you.
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no grognard, i dont remember anyone from the last starting line-up that played in “a division or two below the Prem”, if you think that FC is a much better judge of talent then me then so be it, but i know that every manager does things that make you say hang on a minute, which ever way you put it, this is stupid, tell me grognard, if you where the manager of a national team, and that national team has bad press, would you, and be serious, would you really put a league 2, unknown 20 year old keeper in your national squad(not that being unknown is bad)? no you wouldn’t, would you put that 20 year old inexperienced keeper ahead of the keepers in the top flight with experience and have a real credible claim to be your nations number 1, its disrespectful to those keepers to know that a child is getting a chance before them.
if this joe lewis is so good why dont we have him, why haven’t we been linked with him, surely ferguson or someone from the ferguson clan would of seen him play a few times, as SAFS son is his manager? surely if he was so good, darren ferguson would of alerted his father to take a look, which ever way you put it, this is stupid, S-T-U-P-I-D.
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im dying for some transfer gossip other then ronaldo to real madrid….
anyone got news on who might be coming IN to man utd? thats whats most interesting, in my opinion;)
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how about end of year ratings red ranter ?
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SAF: “Ryan, because he is such a slim lad, could play until he is 38. And that would be at Manchester United.”
Please, oh please, nnooooo!!!!!
Sorry, off subject but I had to post this…
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wink, i have it from an extremely reliable source that, united will announce the signing of aaron ramsey tomorrow, and some time during the next 2 weeks we will announce a 12 mil deal for huntelaar with saha going the other way permanently. you heard it here first
sourece:my brain lol.
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Grognard: OK I thought you were a bit doolally when you posted your initial comment about the so called ‘Chosen One’ or whatever he calls himself these days, but now you have explained your reasoning behind your theory a little better, it kind of makes more sense. But still, even if Roman has finally seen the light, what of Mourinho himself? The guy has an unbelievably humongous ego which I doubt has recovered from what happened last year; so the question is, would HE be willing to forgive and forget and come back to Stamford Bridge? How does he know the same i.e. clash of personality and wills with the owner (followed by subsequent P45), won’t happen to him again? Say what you want about the arrogant little prick, but he’s no mug.
Hypothetically if he were to go back, like you say, it would be only to take care of unfinished business i.e. winning the Champion’s League. But that won’t happen for another good few years in my opinion. He will prove himself in Italy in the meantime, as no doubt there will be a ready made vacancy for him at either/both of the Milan clubs and perhaps maybe Juventus this summer. But you can never say never in the crazy world of football, so we shall see what happens in due time…
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Nico: Agreed with you mate. For the life of me, I just cannot imagine a 38-year old winger playing in and influencing a Premier League match. Never mind Maldini, playing in the Serie A which was specifically designed for OAPS. Or even Sheringham, a striker, who was reduced to just being brought off the bench to score from penalties at 41. Giggsy, sincere thanks for everything you’ve contributed to the United cause since ’91, but retire while you still have dignity please. Preferably at the end of next season after a final hurrah. Cheers!
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[Grognard]
There’s no need for comparing Dan to Fabio Capello. We’ve all questioned SAF for his team selections and I’m sure you remember the numerous number of times you and many others have screamed to our hearts content about our gaffer — do you all think for a moment that you are better placed than SAF? But we all are allowed to rant about it, so please drop the bit about comparing Dan or anyone with Capello or Ferguson or even Benitez. We are all entitled to think that Capello or even Benitez is stupid.
Especially this line that you say:
When you achieve what Fabio Capello has achieved in the game, then and only then can you call a legendary manager stupid.
If that were the case, we are all guilty and have no business ranting about football managers and questioning them on every frikkin team selection.
But no we don’t. Because we are entitled to opinions. So don’t bring that line of telling us when we deserve to tell managers that they are wrong, because we don’t deserve to even call McClaren stupid according to that argument. We are all armchair critics at the end of the day.
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I think ronaldo will sign a new contract with ‘additions’ like a huge buy out clause in the region of 200 mil.
BTW, If ronaldo does go to madrid, they wont be able to sell shirts with his preferred numbers
7 is rauls and 17 is none other than his old ‘friend’ RVN…. Lol
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RR; Fair point. I’m not even going to bother to argue because there is no point and you are correct.
My back pain is making me a little temperamental today. Sorry Dan!
NINO; You are probably not familiar with the saga and ridiculous on again and off again relationship between the owner of the NY Yankees George Steinbrenner and his manager the late Billy Martin. During the late 70′s and up to the late 80′s Steinbrenner had the most annoying and outrageous relationship in all sports. During a span of 9 years Steinbrenner fired Billy 6 times only to hire him back 5 times. It was a joke but the media had a field day with it. The fans loved Billy so it was always a popular move to re hire him. Steinbrenner was the antichrist of all sports owners. He makes Abramovich look like Mother Goose. He was cantankerous, egotistical, opinionated and demanded that his managers play specific player that George bought. People loved to hate him but Yankees fans still appreciated him because he wanted to win and because he tried. And despite everything, he was very close to Billy Martin. Nevertheless, his insecurity and complete lack of knowledge about the intricacies of the game caused him to make mistake after mistake. This year he left the running the club to his son as he is very old and not well. He has owned the Yankees now for almost 35 years. Managers have all been on a short leash but he did finally mellow in his old age because he kept Joe Torre as manager for 11 years.
The point to my long story (sorry about that) is that individuals can have a volatile relationship and yet have a respect and love for each other that keeps bringing them back for more. I think that Roman and Mourinho may be exactly like that because the personalities are so close to Steinbrenner and Martin. Both egomaniacs who are control freaks but who look for acceptance from each other too. You never know NINO, it’s happened before. I smell a disgusting kiss and make up session at Stamford Bridge. Seriously, I hope I am very wrong on this but my gut is telling me otherwise. The thought of Mourinho as General to those troops again sends shivers down my spine. Love him or hate him he knows how to win and he has Fergie’s number.
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“I won’t be managing here any more than three years at the very, very most. Without question. I can assure you of that.” Sir Alex Ferguson
So this is it, then. That’ll be the saddest day in United’s history, after Munich 1958. Enjoy it while it lasts, lads.
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if ur source is correct, dan, i would be oh so happy… haha
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I am really so sick of this ronaldo business now. I think he is using the press very intelligently (as he doesnt have the bottle to talk straightaway to gaffer – Fergie will order him to play for reserves rather than sell him!!!) I think utd are building towards something very exciting for future and if ronaldo doesnt want to be part of that then we should just cash on him this year itself as we can get maximum for him this year! I’ll gladly take 64m + robinho for him and use the cash to buy some other top player (maybe huntelaar or berbatov or why not Kaka! he also wants to play in Premiership and has indicated utd as his fav team. with ACM not in UCL next year he might be interested in a move here). We shud only have players who are proud to wear club colors here. We beat a pretty strong Arsenal side easily without him (in FA cup) so we can cope without him.
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and moreeee rumors
http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=709900
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Dan:
I think we should be congratulating Joe Lewis on getting a call up, he had a fantastic season in their promotion and Capello has recognised that. We are crying out for quality youngsters and with this being a friendly its a good chance for him to see what he’s like in training and give him some experience being involved with England. He wont play, he will be 3rd choice but in 3/4 years time he might just be up there with the best in the country and Capello is thinking long term aswell as fixing the short term. Players like Robinson, Green have had long hard seasons and have prob already booked their holidays – Capello obviously thought it better to give someone experience rather than make one of the more experienced players cancel their holiday and sit in the stands.
Give talented young english players more exposure I say, maybe just maybe this will make big teams notice his talent and then we can have another quality english keeper in the top flight rather than an average foreigner on stupid wages.
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Ryan; Very good point mate. Totally agree with you regarding Joe Lewis.
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In defence of Capello, Robert Green apparently has charity commitments at the time of the friendlies and wouldn’t have been available for selection.
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Hmmmm – according to Marca (Real’s official newspaper), United have said, it will take 35 miilion, Robhino, Serge Ranos and Moh Diarra for Ronaldo. So no idea how much truth there is in the report, but Real have said, that United just priced him out of the market. Because the money and players we are asking for, total’s 100 million in effect. The paper suggests that United have done this, to get Real off our backs. So is it true, or fabrication. I think it’s paper make believe. But who knows what’s going on????
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Craig; most definitely just fabrication. Anything that comes out of Marca is just not true.
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i wish what’s being reported in marca is true. though a triple swap including 50m for ronaldo sounds real good, its almost impossible but then again, impossible is nothing aye? i’d take sergio ramos, robinho and de la red or granero instead of diarra.
why not? sounds like the perfect deal.
ronaldo is currently one of the best, if not the best in the world this season. yeah he two out of the world seasons, but if you put a winger in a strikers position im sure you’re gna get more goals outta them. like many others out there who’ve said ronaldo cant be classified as a midfielder anymore. a winger? maybe. but he has definitely been playing more of a central striker role this season.
Sergio Ramos
now, we’ve been hearing time and again about united chasing micah richards as gary’s long term replacement. if we do get this deal which i doubt 101% it’ll get concrete, we’ll be getting a superb player. ramos is a way better right/center back than richards though he losses out in strength. yeah they both have their slippery moments but ramos has way better ability on and off the ball which hes developed over the past 3 seasons, has great positioning and he’s been brilliant at running down the right flank where he’s been used this season. be it making opposition defenders look stupid expressing superb footwork with calmness and class, swinging crosses in, attacking corners etc.. he has it all. i rate him on the same level as dani alves, if not better. and he does the ronaldo heel chop pretty nicely too so we wouldnt miss that move if ronaldo does go somehow
Robinho
I’ve always rated this samba boy quite highly though he hasnt quite lived up to the expectations he carried with him till recently. some say ronaldo is the stepover king, but those who’ve said that havent seen the brazilian star at work. his trademark pedalada owns every other stepovers that players try, and the best thing is he does it with so much ease and flair defenders get themselves tricked most of the time. okay so we cant say robinho will be able to give us what ronaldo did, afterall every player is different so we cant expect another ronaldo. even nani cant and never will be the new ronaldo. so what does robinho give? at his best, we’ll get what he did at the beginning of the season in laliga. always a joy to watch, plays clever passes with teammates, gets into the box and has a good eye for goal. and thats we’ll need next season, players who take on defenders with slick tricks in the bag to pull out when needed.
De la Red / Esteban Granero
Both products of the Real Madrid youth academy, their chances in the team were limited till they went out to getafe on loan this season and showed what they could do. de la red plays more of an attacking midfield role, while granero is a holding midfielder with a eye for passes. i’ve watched them on a number of occasions this season and i’ve to say de la red has impressed many though hes been forced to play a deeper role due to his team mates picking up injuries. he’s been called up to his national side for the euros and i hope to see more of him there. definitely one to look out for.
So without ronaldo, and with rooney and tevez not scoring at strikers rate who’s gna bring the goals if this deal really happen? my guess is SAF will use the 50m from this transfer and buy benzema/hunteelar/villa/eto’o. i doubt benzema will be moving this summer hence it pretty much looks like its either gna be the hunter or the villian cause eto’s attitude doesnt quite fit in with the current squad. and hopefully whichever striker that comes does the job and bag the goals.
so how does this sound? losing the current best player in the world in exchange for a young solid classy defender who’s gna be the best in the world in the next few years, a hot attacking midfield prospect, a world class wing forward and strikers who have proven themselves in their respective leagues and strike fear in defenders mind when mentioned.
yeah i know this’ll never happen, but.. what if?
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agree al nino.
i would take robinho ramos 50m for ronaldo (if ronaldo wants the move that is).
In case Ronaldo wants to stay and is happy here than I would take him instead.
But it all depends on ronaldo. he shud be kept only if he wants. else sell him and move forward. no one player makes a team and the proceeds from his sale can buy us some other world class players (Ibrahimovic or Huntelaar (though he is not world class yet) or Eto’o or Kaka etc)
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I would certainly love Ramos he is absolute top draw but not Robinho.
The Brazilian is not right for the premiership, he is too lightweight and would get kiched shitless, pardon my bluntness!!
He has not exactly been hit in Madrid either but I would love the goalkeeper, the best around in my book.
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An open letter to Ronaldo.
Dear Ronaldo,
At the outset, let me extend my deep gratitude on your outstanding service thus far to MUFC. The moments of sheer brilliance over the last few seasons are countless. You have, thus far, succeeded when everyone doubted you. You are a resilient fighter. You have wuthered numerous storms recently. You are an an unbelievable talent and you deserve all the credit in the world. So, I would like to reiterate MUFC’s debt to you.
Speaking of debt, Ronaldo, and I know very well you might agree with what I’m about to say, I think you also should be indebted whole heartdly to many a factor during your development as a professional football player at Old Trafford.
Firstly to MUFC. Yes, to the club that bought you when you were a young boy and nurtured you to what you are today. The club gave you your status today. Lets be honest, Ronaldo, if you were still at Sporting Lisbon, I really cannot invasige your stature today as it is now. Now, you still might have been able to be the outstanding player you are at another big club, but honestly I cannot see another setting capable enough to make you the best player in the world in the span of four years.
Secondly, to Sir Alex Ferguson. The man who single handedly protected you and defended you when you were public enemy number one as a result of Wayne Rooney’s sending off at the last World Cup. He picked you up when you most needed it. Sir Alex was so aware of the amount of heat he was going to recieve as a result of that, but instead he faced up to this challenge and embraced you. Now that, Ronaldo, is one hell of a debt.
Thirdly, to the supporters of this great club. You probably realise by now that you are fast becoming a legend with the fans at the mere age of 23. An incredible feat that only a hand full of stars have succeeded in attaining. And believe you me, Ronaldo, this is not something easy to attain.
Fourthly, to your fellow players. Never forget, nor deny, the tremendous amount of support every single player gave you. You would have never become the player you are today without your collegues on and off the pitch.
The list goes on and on Ronaldo. One thing is certain though and that is no one knows what the future holds, as you rightly said in many ocassions when asked about your possible transfer to Real Madrid. So, if you ever decide to go, Ronaldo, I hope from the bottom of my heart that you keep these few humble thoughts in your mind and heart too.
Ronaldo, I thought very hard on how to sum up this letter to you. I have squeezed every brain cell in that process. It took me at least two MINUTES. So instead of wishing you well at a new club if you ever decide to move on, I am going to end with this:
Beckham, RVN, Heinze, are not missed at all.
Goodluck.
Sincerely,
One hell of a devoted Manchester United Football Club fan.
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Nawaf, great point mate. He is turning into a media whore unfortunatly, great player great season definatly.
We probably should cash him now while his stock is as high as it would get. If we could get three of four top players ideally one being Huntelaar then selling probably makes sense.
I loved watching him this season but I wuld rather see him go than Rooney. I think we are kidding ourselves if we truly believe he wants to stay, cash in and lets move on.
We are United not Liverpool, we have never been reliant on on player.
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