Is the Ronaldinho Saga a lesson to Manchester United

By: Rob | July 18th, 2008

Cast your mind back to those heady days of 2005. Greece were European Champions. Frank Lampard was voted England’s player of the year. Zidane was still playing, and he hadn’t headbutted anyone in a World Cup Final. And Ronaldinho was the best player in the world.

Chelsea had a bid of around 50m turned down or him. Then awhile later, Milan had a 60m offer turned down. Since that Milan offer, Leo Messi has risen, and Ronaldinho’s relationship with Barca soured spectaculary, to the point where they sold him on the cheap to Milan this summer.

So as Real Madrid’s stupid money comes in for Cristiano Ronaldo, now arguably the best player in the world, maybe Manchester United should look back on history and take the money.

Ultimately its a hell of alot of money, and Ronaldo hasn’t made himself look brilliant. As good as he’s been for United the last couple of seasons - and theres no counting against 40 goals in a season however you look at it - he’s hardly conducted himself in an endearing way to the fans.

If he stays at United this season, he isn’t going to want to be there, and we might experience a fall from grace similar to Ronaldinho’s. Its not a given, and CR7 has risen against a bit of hatred before (He wasn’t that loved in Manchester circa World Cup 2006) and he does appear to thrive on it in a way that The Dhino never does.

While he has the potential to bounce back, he isn’t going to be a Man United favourite in the way some of the other controversial players to have worn the Number Seven are, just because its obvious he wants to play in Madrid some day. If it doesn’t happen now, it will next year, or the one after.

So maybe its time for United to heed Barca’s lesson, and take the money while the money is good. I’ll be happy to be proved wrong if he has an amazing season at United though. If anyone could drag it out of him its Fergie.