Manchester United

Ronaldo Prices Himself Out Of The Market

By Oli Dinsmore ⋅ May 16, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

There are few words that can do Cristiano Ronaldo justice.

After a great season last year, Europe knew it had a really decent player on its hands.  But in scoring 23 goals from a wide position, several top players including Didier Drogba, questioned Ronnie’s ability to maintain momentum.

Perhaps this warning was simply a rival’s attempt to unsettle the player, but few could have imagined that Ronaldo would go on to almost double that tally this time out.

41 goals and counting. Yes, that’s 41.

The very same 41 that you’ll find in Reading’s ‘goals for’ column. His 31 league goals (11 more than Derby) in 31 starts leave him joint top of the all-time Premier League scoring charts (during 38 game seasons) alongside Alan Shearer, and one ahead of Thierry Henry. Esteemed company indeed, and all the more incredible because he’s been deployed (officially) in wide positions for the vast majority of the season.

There is no doubt that we are watching history in the making. Past and present, you can count players this good on two hands. Of course, media and public scrutiny of football is now so great that we attempt to christen a new ‘superstar’ on an almost monthly basis. But if such terms are too readily ascribed to some 'one season wonders', it’s impossible to overstate the powers of Ronaldo.

Every time a question is asked of him he responds with ease, and not a little swagger.  When he was described as a one-trick pony, he simply invented more tricks. When he was slated for misuse of the ball, he knuckled down and became a superb team player. When United couldn’t score, Ronnaldo stepped up to the plate and started banging them in for fun.

And finally, when the media had almost exhausted all avenues of potential fallibility, they timidly asked ‘Can he do it on the biggest stage, in Europe?’ step forward the top scorer in the Champions League this season. Cristiano Ronaldo. Who else?

Amidst the vast and growing array of talent at United, Ronaldo somehow dominates the stats in virtually every offensive aspect of play.

Penalty taker. Best header of the ball. Fastest player. Top-scorer. Free-kick taker extraordinaire.

In games where he alone has scored, and therefore decided the match, United have taken 14 extra Premier League points. But his true points value is surely far higher. At 23, Ronaldo is the complete footballer. Plus ca change. He’s the Players’ Player of the Year, the Footballer Writers’ Player of the Year, Premier League Golden Boot Winner and Ballon D’Or winner. Oh and he scooped every single senior award at United’s yearly ceremony.

At this moment in time, Ronaldo couldn’t lose if he tried. But what really separates top players from great players is how far they can take their team.

No one would suggest that ‘King’ Eric Cantona didn’t pull his weight in his trophy-laden spell at Old Trafford, but he never dominated Europe with United. You have to look back to George Best to find a United player who was so good that he thrust his team almost single-handedly to European as well as domestic success. Keane did it in vital matches but Best and Ronaldo did and do it in most matches.

If this season’s European goal tally is anything to go by, Ronaldo is about to become the true successor to Best. And I don’t think he will disappoint in Moscow.

But I know that beyond this euphoria, there is an annoying niggle amongst some United fans that just won’t go away. What do they say about all good things? They hope that the best player in the world doesn’t leave these shores for a very long time but, slight ambiguity in recent interviews, has suggested that he is less than certain about how long he wants to stay.

It may be simple paranoia to read too much into his recent comments about contracts, but that mere modicum of uncertainty is enough to send some into a cold sweat.

It does seem unlikely that Ronaldo would leave at the end of this season. If United’s upward curve continues he would arguably only be taking a backward step in finding new employment. But he has never made a secret of his desire to one day play in Spain.

The question is, when?

Of course, United will do everything in their power to keep him. They don’t need to sell at any price and would certainly hand him a ten-year contract tomorrow if he so desired. But if the player decided he wanted a new challenge next season, he may find that he is simply priced out of the market.

Much as Madrid love to splash the cash, would even they be able to offer the £80-90 million that United would surely demand if Ronaldo forced the club’s hand? This may seem like a fantasy football figure but when Ronaldo wins World Footballer of the Year, it will only ratify his unique talents.

Messi and Kaka are the only players with similar current status on the world stage and both have £60m+price tags. But Ronaldo’s financial value is greater, not least because he is largely injury-free. He gives you 40 plus games a season, and to top it all off, he’s a marketing man’s wet dream.

With three years left on his contract, the only team that could realistically afford this golden child is Chelsea. And this surely isn’t the ‘new challenge’ Ronaldo has in mind. So, in all likelihood, Ronaldo won’t be going anywhere for at least another year. But when the honours are handed out in May 2009 and Ronaldo has again confounded the records by notching a dozen hat-tricks, the same rumours will surely surface, and perhaps with more substance.

If this good thing is to come to an end, we must simply enjoy it whilst it’s here. But let’s hope Elvis isn’t planning to leave the building just yet.

Tags: Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid

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