trial of strength

So the waiting is nearly over – with Portugal’s exit from the Euros, the end of the longest running transfer saga for many a summer can finally be put to bed. Yet the outcome will have implications that go far deeper than the trade of a player from one club to another – make no mistake this is a trial of strength between two powerhouses at the summit of the club game.

In the white corner: Real Madrid the most successful club of the 20th century and, judging from recent comments, every Latino’s boyhood dream. Since Santiago Bernebeu took advantage of the Hungarian Uprising and acquired the core of the fabled Magnificent Magyars team that handed English football such a harsh lesson, Madrid has continually added stellar names to its teams – from di Stefano to Zidane, the club claims that the greats have always played for Los Blancos. In the red corner United: the biggest team in the English speaking world, whose success in the Premiership has made them the richest club in the world, a title they only surrendered with the (voluntary) sale of David Beckham. Their return to the top of Europe’s rich list is due in no small part to their star player and sportswear modeller in chief. 

It is arguable that should United accept an outrageous fee for their winger, they would actually be in the superior position as Real would be forced to sell or trade away too many players to be an effective force. United would also be able to strengthen, adding three or four world class players. In reality, however, the loss of the biggest marketing icon in the game would show that Madrid always get their man and their seat at the summit of club football remained theirs and theirs alone. 

Despite erroneous reports claiming that the decision is for the player, it is actually United’s and more specifically Alex Ferguson’s. The player is just a year into a five-year contract while the manager’s total power at the club is assured following the recent double success – the Glazer’s are fully aware that the sale of the club’s star asset over the manager’s head would precipitate the first genuine crisis of their Old Trafford reign.

Ferguson has always been suspicious of ‘Big Time Charlies’, players who believe their own publicity a good deal more than is good for them. The sale of Ince, Beckham and Keane show that the manager is quick to rid his squad of divisive characters – branded clothing, tv channels, syndicated columns and lord knows what else do not sit easily with a man proud of his working class roots.  

Yet allowing his prized asset to leave, even if it is for an inflated fee, would impact on key members of the remainder of his squad for whom any or all of these peripheral things represent an aspiration. The likes of Nani, Anderson and Tevez would see the sale of Ronaldo as an admission that there was a way up from United and that they could agitate successfully for a move to Madrid should the Spaniards come calling.

Factor in the causes of rival sportswear brands, assorted agents, the player’s family and, oh yeah, the fans of both clubs and it’s clear that this is perhaps the most important decision of the Ferguson’s career in global terms. It’s little wonder the Scot has opted to extend his holiday…

the bigger loss

What started as a summer of celebration now appears to be descending, if not quite into farce, then into uncertainty. As the Ronaldo saga drags on, with little sign of an end in sight, United could be on the brink of losing an even more important part of their Double winning outfit.

Scolari’s appointment at Chelsea has led the Portuguese FA to name United’s assistant manager Carlos Queiroz as their number one target. As the logical replacement, it’s difficult to see how (or why) he would turn down the opportunity to lead Portugal to their firat World Cup.

Quieroz’s impact on United since his return from Real Madrid four years ago has been immense. Branded a failure in the Spanish capital following a disappointing spell at the Bernebeu, he was later blamed for United’s tortuos experimentation with 4-5-1, culminating in the OT crowd shouting “4-4-2″ as United succumbed to Blackburn in a Premier League game back in 2005. At that point Queiroz was enemy number one with a section of fans as Sir Alex Ferguson struggled to come to terms with Mourinho’s rising star and the fading influence of Roy Keane.

Yet he has been every bit as responsible for United’s resurgence as his boss. The high number of Portuguese speakers at the club makes Queiroz a vital figure behind the scenes and he is widely credited for heading off the last Ronaldo crisis following the 2006 World Cup. Like his younger countryman, Quieroz’s loss would be felt keenly by Ferguson who has this week threatened to resign if Ronaldo was sold over his head but would acquiese if his right hand man wanted to take the opportunity to manage his national team.

It’s apparent that the loss of Queiroz would hit the manager all the harder. The departure of Ronaldo would provide Ferguson with the funds to rebuild, with Quieroz’s departure he would lose the father figure to the Portuguese youngsters at the club, the fruitful connection with Sporting Lisbon and the tactician responsible for United’s renewed success in Europe.

If Queiroz does stay, it’s certain that the carrot of the top job will have been dangled. At the moment I’m certain that, if he was forced to choose, Ferguson would rather cash in on his star player and keep his right-hand man.

don’t do one ron, ron…

There is a lot made of United’s 7s – like Brazil’s Number 10 shirt, the greatest players to have graced the club coincidentally wore the same number, yet legendary status isn’t guaranteed for the wearer of this coveted strip and it’s current incumbent isn’t certain of joining the pantheon led by Best and Cantona despite a stunning season containing 42 goals and the two biggest prizes in club football.

The Madrid transfer saga, in particular the deceit (telling the Spanish media one thing and the English another) has marred an otherwise perfect season for Ronaldo. From being the Golden Boy he is in danger of joining the ranks of Ince and Heinze as a traitor, although it might be closer to the truth to say he’ll join my boyhood hero Mark Hughes whose move to City and recent support of Chelsea has been a disappointment, although not a massive surprise.

Up until today I thought the whole thing was a wind-up and that he was after a bit of attention. Now, after a morning of tabloid headlines (admittedly based on little but rumour) I’m not so sure. It seems the boy may have had his head turned by his boyhood favourites. If pushed I’d say he seems more likely to stay as he’s just a year into a 5 year deal signed last season. Fergie has stated he’s not for sale and he United would lose out massively on merchandise if they did (just as happened after the undervalued Beckham sale) – but the odds on Madrid have definitely shortened today.

So, if the worst happened would his loss be catastrophic? Some seem to think so.

There’s little doubt that he’s been vital to this season’s successes. 42 goals out of a total of 110 (38%) have come from the Portuguese and it could be that he’s had a once in a lifetime season, perhaps inspired finishing, general impudence and a mountain of memorable moments have made it a career-defining one, with perhaps the biggest prize to come with his national team. 

In contrast the other members of United’s current Holy Trinity have fallen below expectation. Tevez can be excused as he’s not had a rest for several years, is new to the club and his form in the run-in picked up to the extent that he became the team’s most potent attacker. Meanwhile Rooney has had a disappointing campaign on the face of it with only 18 goals in 39 appearances. But the Scouser has been played out of position for most of it and it’s rare that he actually plays in his preferred role ‘in the hole’. Ronaldo’s sale could facilitate his return there.

With Nani improving all the time, Anderson already accustomed to dominating the likes of Fabregas and Gerrard and the prospect of using an estimated £75m windfall to sign a top talent like Benzema, it might actually be more interesting if we sold Ronaldo and used the cash to make us less reliant on one player.  

If we did cash in there’s a certain logic there too – this has been a season beyond anyone’s expectations. Like Best in 1968, he’s scaled football’s Everest, the only way seems to be down. As disappointing as his recent actions have been and as amazing as 2007/8’s  football has been, if he went there wouldn’t be widespread grief, most would accept that the club’s reputation as a polisher of talent had been enhanced, be grateful for the cash and expect bigger and better things next season.