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United Will Go On Without Ronaldo | 
Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest transfer to Real Madrid has sparked a lot of emotion – shock at the transfer fee, surprise at his exit, satisfaction that he’s no longer in England, and despair for some United fans. As a United fan myself, I’m not entirely convinced that Ronaldo’s exit is a disaster. Here are the reasons why I think United will cope in the absence of the world’s greatest player:
£80 Million
There are 80 million reasons why United’s owners and management will love this transfer. Regardless of the quality of the player that they lost, £80 million is more than enough for any man in the world. This vast sum of money will not only service some of United’s debts, but it will fund the purchases of more than one top class player (with players like Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery, and maybe even Carlos Tevez potential options).
Tactical Reshuffling
One great thing about the Ronaldo exit is that it will force Sir Alex Ferguson to reshuffle his tactics. As Guus Hiddink pointed out, United sometimes lose big games (like the Champions League final) because they fall into a defensive shell. Fergie often needs to compensate for Ronaldo’s lack of defensive ability (due to the fact that he doesn’t even track back), leaving Wayne Rooney out wide with defensive duties. As Fabio Capello said, getting the best out of Rooney means leaving him in front of the goal, and he’ll be right there come August, banging in the goals once again.
Nani
One of the biggest question marks in the United squad last season was the ability of the other Portuguese winger – Nani. There were doubts surrounding his determination and attitude, but following Ronaldo’s exit his lifelong friend has come out strong. Nani told the press yesterday that Ronaldo’s exit isn’t the end of the world, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Nani will make sure to fill the void left by Ronaldo. Granted, there’s no way he will be able to replicate the displays of his countryman, but it’ll give him many chances to improve.
United Pre-2003
Far too many people are forgetting that United made Ronaldo – Ronaldo didn’t make United. United has won many titles without Ronaldo, and will continue to win titles without him. Along these same lines – Fergie is a very smart man. If he sold Ronaldo it’s because he’s got a backup plan – and maybe even a replacement – in mind. He found a way to replace Beckham, he found a way to replace Cantona, and he’ll find a way to replace Ronaldo. There’s life beyond Cristiano Ronaldo.
Is United worse off without Ronaldo or has the cancer been removed? Have your say in the comments section below!
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Very True Brian. THe doom merchants are out in force but are forgetting that United have been in this spot before. Real Madrid are a team that buy great players and great teams, they don’t make them. United, along with Barca and closer to home even Arsenal are clubs that make players & teams..
Cantona was the nucleus of the team in the mid 90’s…his departure was hardly felt as it took United only 2 seasons to win the European Cup, a feat unachieved in Cantona’s reign…
They also only won it again after the departure of their 2 most talismanic players of the 90s and early 2000’s – Keane & Beckham
Ronaldo’s departure will be felt for a season…but not much longer than that. United will continue to build great players and great teams…and Madrid will continue to try and buy them while they continue to fail at doing so themselves
While it is very foolish to write off a team as strong as Manchester United, I do feel the need to point out that replacing the nucleus of the team is often the most difficult part. Ronaldo didn’t exactly make United, but he was surely the key to their dominance in the past few years. This transfer reminds me of Thierry Henry’s departure in quite a few ways. Like Ronaldo, he always fancied a move to La Liga but was just never man enough to admit it to the Arsenal fans.
So obviously we were shocked when one fine day he just picked his bags up and departed…we thought we would replace him somehow, but till this date we’re struggling. You can argue that this is due to Wenger’s lack of investment in experienced players. But even if Fergie is an out and out genius with great planning, he is getting very old and he might be running out of gas pretty soon.
Nani to fill the void left by ronaldo? Don’t make me laugh.
Ronaldo didn’t make united? Do you really think that without Ronaldo’s 70 goals over the last two season United would have won 2 Leagues and a Champions League? No chance. United are so much better when Ronaldo is in the team. No one will be able to replace him
That’s a good move on United’s part. I just brouhgt it up because there’s been speculation that he might be leaving, but that was before Ronaldo’s departure.
Ronaldo became a better player at United but was it United’s doing? He was made at Sporting and he got better with age and experience. If he had stayed at Sporting or gone to another club I think he’d be where he is today talent wise, perhaps he wouldn’t have won the trophies that he has won with United but he’d be the player that he is. United did a great job spotting a young kid who had the potential to be the best player in the world. That doesn’t qualify as making him, but hats off to them for making a great signing.
To say that United didn’t make Ronaldo is a pretty outrageous claim. Look at Ronaldo when he arrived at United and look at him now – see a difference? I thought so. Sporting may have set a good foundation, but United made him the world’s best player.
And Nani IS staying. He himself has said that he will be the one to replace Ronaldo.
Will Nani stay at United? Everytime I see the guy talk about his time at United he seems so depressed. It’s one thing to read his words in English but its another thing to see him speak in Portuguese. Perhaps more playing time will put some confidence back in him.
You’re right, Ronaldo did not make United, but I’d have to also say that United did not make Ronaldo. That honor would belong to Sporting who has a pretty good track record of making players.
The transfer market has just begun. It’ll be interesting to see what United does.