ALEX FERGUSON MUST SELL RONALDO
Whingeing winger is becoming an embarrassment to United
THAT Cristiano Ronaldo remains a world-class player is beyond doubt. There is no discussion to be had.
That he will continue to harvest goals, accolades, awards and medals also goes without saying.
But what is equally certain is that - for all the glory he brings to the club - he is in danger of becoming an embarrassment to the proud traditions of Manchester United.
And that should be just one of the reasons why Sir Alex Ferguson should consider selling one of the finest players he has ever nurtured - a talent that has the World, European and our own Footballer of the Year titles after his name.
But the torrent of awards has only swollen his ego. It is not evident in his public utterances. Far from it. But it is painfully evident in his increasingly petulant behaviour on the pitch.
Take last weekend's game. If there has been a more immature individual display than the one Ronaldo gave at Craven Cottage last weekend, I haven't seen it.
And the most distasteful part was not his pointless lunge at Danny Murphy. It was not his petulant refusal of the Fulham skipper's olive branch. It was not the theatrical pointing to a graze that would not have reduced a toddler to tears.
It was not his non-stop whining at Phil Dowd. It was his berating of a team-mate. Sure, Roy Keane did it. But he was the skipper. Ditto Gary Neville. And always, it was constructive.
But Ronaldo's scornful, foot-stamping annoyance at John O'Shea smacked of someone belittling a less talented colleague. Had Keane been his captain, Ronaldo would have been brought brutally into line.
Not just for his angry, dismissive gestures at O'Shea but also for his hysterical reaction to anything remotely resembling a physical challenge.
Instead, we had Ryan Giggs trying almost pitifully to act as a peacemaker between player and referee.
A man who has never let his dignity be disturbed by nearly two decades of bone-jarring attention pleading on behalf of a prima donna. Albeit an extravagantly talented one. No wonder the game seemed to pass Giggs by.
And significantly, Ferguson did not make a point of repeating his theory that Ronaldo is afforded little protection from officials.
Ferguson might on occasions have a point. And his determination to defend his players with every breath in his body is one of his many admirable traits. But even Sir Alex must know that Ronaldo's histrionics are threatening to become a distraction.
Yet Ronaldo is still his top-scorer. Still second in the English goal charts. Indeed, the statistics suggest Ronaldo is having another fine season. Not the stellar campaign he enjoyed last time around but pretty impressive all the same.
But numbers don't tell a story. Of his 13 Premier League goals, three have been from the penalty spot, including the only one against Big Four rivals.
Of the remaining 10, three have been against West Brom, two against Stoke, two against Hull, two against West Ham and one against Blackburn. And his overall tally of 17 is completed by three against Derby County and one against Middlesbrough.
Only his previous exploits refute flat-track bully allegations.And it is extremely unlikely that his fellow professionals will vote him into their top three for the PFA Player of the Year award.
When a couple of us asked him recently if that would bother him, he replied that it wouldn't. That it was the team that mattered. But without pausing, he was quick to remind us of his position at the head of United's scoring charts. And that gives you a small but telling insight into the mentality of the man.
Outcome
But for all Ferguson's passion, he makes decisions based solely on cold-hearted analysis of whether it will benefit Manchester United. If Ronaldo stays, then it will only be with a new contract. That's the way his people work.
After all, there are only so many Ferraris you can write off without needing a pay-rise. Then, you could have a player whose whopping sense of self-importance is even more inflated.
And if Ferguson had to make a choice of who to keep happy - Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney - there would only be one outcome.
At the moment, Ronaldo's value is still commensurate with being the best player in the world (although Lionel Messi will surely wrest the crown from him) and United remains a business that needs to survive and try and thrive in difficult times.
Frustration
If Ferguson wants to keep Carlos Tevez - and the informed rumours suggest he does - a slice of a Ronaldo transfer fee could take care of that.
But most crucially of all is the Real Madrid factor. Ferguson stood up to the Bernabeu transfer bullies last summer for two reasons. First, because no-one can intimidate him into doing something he doesn't want to do at that time. Secondly, plans for his defence of the Champions League and Premier League were already laid once the final ball of last season had been kicked.
Those plans included Ronaldo and no-one - not even Real with an obscene cheque - were going to disrupt them. But as Jaap Stam and David Beckham found out, no-one is indispensable to Sir Alex.
Especially someone who, with every flouncing show of frustration, looks more and more like he'd rather be somewhere other than Old Trafford.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn
This article has 16 comments
Can you imagine how lame the game would be devoid of Ronny and Roony, and a couple more. I know its a kind of sport in itself to " have a go" but lets face it people-footy without exciting players and "incidents"(Thug Barton) would hardly be more popular than curling........
By Bob. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:09 AM.
Ronaldo for sale.. 100M pound, anyone?..
Totally absurd.. got talents but when money came into his mind, the holy bible warned ,".. and the truth shall sets you free".
And he is not even for FREE!
All the best Christiano Ronaldo.. all the best.
By Rob Chelsea. Posted May 6 2009 at 10:26 PM.
In your Dreams
By carl warmington. Posted May 3 2009 at 8:54 AM.
Ur spot on, Andy. That whingeing show pony should be mad 'rid' off next summer. To pass on 100m pounds and dishing out 200,000 per week on an overrated prima donna would be a total disgrace to ManU. It aches me to see his performance week in week out this season. He cant even score from free kicks these days and most of his goals are against lowly teams. Pity u ManU fans who filled OT to get cheated by his insipid displays. On the other hand is he engineering the move??? I believe he is, so SAF please shipped him off. He' not worth the salt to remain by these disgraceful and dishonest acts. Bye Bye Ron.
By MHisham. Posted March 30 2009 at 11:31 AM.
if we have another summer of ronaldo courting real madrid, we should move him on.last year he took the shine off man utd success by not quashing rumours. it is clear by his body language that he is not trying. apart from the goal against inter,i think he has been below average. cash in on him whilst he is world player, because on this years showing his value will reduce greatly.
By mitchcornwall. Posted March 29 2009 at 11:03 PM.
i would jus say "well said wilfred !! " ^^^^
By KHURRAM. Posted March 29 2009 at 8:46 PM.
Who is top of the premiership. Who has already won a trophy this season. Ronaldo will leave United when Ferguson see's fit, not when some nobody from the News o the world decides. As for messi being better than ronaldho, what did Barcelona win last last, certainly not the champions league ohh, i wonder who won that, ohh i wonder who scored the winner in the final.
By Gemma . Posted March 29 2009 at 6:05 PM.
It is sad but not surprising to see what success has created in this mad world of sport .Ronaldo should be NOW sold to the highest bidder for the good of Man Utd who is always greater than any of their stars .SAF has reached his Everest and must step down at the same time as Ronaldo leaves to allow his replacement rebuild a better team for the future .Man Utd has enough of theatrics and should look to sign another Roy Keane to lead the team again .It is time for a new Beginning .
By James Au. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:49 PM.
Fergie didnt make a mistake by not signing torres as he tryed to. but torres would only listen to one offer and thats from the best club in the world liverpool.
By shayne. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:02 PM.
The mancs will be a spent force when red face ferguson goes. Ronaldo will be one of the rats fleeing the sinking ship.
Liverpool FC
By steve . Posted March 29 2009 at 11:44 AM.
I think Ronaldo should stay at Man Utd. The guy is good but he needs guidance from the coach. He must learn to complain less in matches. Tevez and Nani must not be sold, they are the future of the club.
By SOKO. Posted March 29 2009 at 11:29 AM.
Sell for 100m, buy me (50p) and a wage of 200,000 a year. I will never moan about rough treatment, act like a prat if substituted and I will probably get at least one goal a season. Man U can sell me on a free at the end of the year back to my amateur club.
By Archie. Posted March 29 2009 at 10:10 AM.
while ronaldo is a good player he is not on same planet as messi and against fulham he was a disgrace with his attitude and petulance and not for first time this season you could put up with it maybe if he was playing well but he is not especially aginst big clubs when he is needed the most he goes missing and i believe sir alex will sell him once the offer is good for the club because to me he has become disruptive and in danger of losing dressingroom looking at way some players are performing ie.vidic evra scholes giggs and also rooney should be played up front all the time he is world class and will be ruined if not played there ani i would love united to sign benzema he is pure class
By paul lynch. Posted March 29 2009 at 9:34 AM.
There is no need to compare players one to one and when that is done Ronaldo has pace, power, height, trickery and uses both feet! He could fit left, right and centre! When on song he scores from individual brilliance, penalties, free kicks and creates goals. 2008 season to score 42 goals was incredible! Tell me one other player who can do that?
There is nothing wrong for someone to be aggressive and proud of his talent and capability. The boy works very hard in practice and gym and has discipline with what he eats and drinks. His success is out of hard work and determination. If the likes of Rooney had the same drive, you could imagine what he would do!
While we criticize Ronaldo for his short comings we should be fair and know that he is human after all. He is the best player around but to his own standard is having an average season and that is frustrating him, he wants to do better and is trying hard; all we do is pick every little negative issue and blow it out of proportions! That is exactly the English attitude and that is what makes them under achieve in everything apart from the English Language!
By Wilfred. Posted March 29 2009 at 9:01 AM.
I agree with the artical but don't agree that the world class status is not debatable it is debatable. He's no where near the same class as messi in so many ways he's an embarrassment to his club and has lost his wow factor. To be perfectly honest i couldn't care less weather he stays or goes because i'm not a fan of his. He doesn't look happy at united at all and anyone who says different is lying to themselves, he'll go to madrid eventually and the sooner the better as far as i'm concerned.
He's not the only embarrassment united have had over the years he's one of a few and deserves to be ridiculed he's brought it on himself and i have no sympathy!!!! When fergie retires it will be all change at united starting with the show pony being sold to the highest bidder!
By karen. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:33 AM.
I don't agree with this article completely though there are many valid points. I agree that Ronaldo needs to act like a man and be more humble, but in today's world, these things come with success. I would not be unhappy if we sold Ronaldo for 100+ Million Euros. Also, I think Tevez is a surplus to United and not really the kind of player United need. I think Alex Ferguson has made many mistakes in his managerial time at Old Trafford especially, selling Stam and Becks and not buying Ronaldihno and Torres. I think his salvation lies in luring Karim Benzema to OT. Just thinking of Rooney and Benzema partnership makes me excited. Add to that Franck Ribery. We can sell Ronaldo, Nani & Tevez and raise some decent money for building future team. Hargreaves will be back next season and Anderson is always improving. Fletcher has only gotten to be a first team player and he will get better next season. There's no place for egomaniacs like Ronaldo in the Manchester United folklore.
By Sam G.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:36 AM.