As a footballer, his value to United is unquestionable. Physique, technique, winning mentality and charisma. A sacred and rare mix, especially when served on such a high level throughout a whole season. You have to believe this was a one off season. Too copy last year is close to impossible.

None of us could stand Rio Ferdinand when he was renegotiating his contract with United. Reluctant to sign; -he was greedy, self-righteous and out of touch with reality. Let him go, we all said. “No player is bigger than the club!” Well, he signed. And now, we can’t praise Rio enough. In contention for the captaincy, and one of our biggest stars. Without a doubt one of the finest defenders on the planet, justifying his huge salary, many say.

What about Ronaldo? IF he decides to stay, we’ll we learn to love him again? After all the respect and affection we’ve given him, he repays us with what? The bust-up with Rooney in the World Cup? His constant off-field antics, like rape-allegations, prostitues and orgies? His comments on Real throughout the season? His promise to stay at United after the Champions League final? The deafening silence throughout Euro2008? His choice to go on vacation instead of operating his ancle? His “I’m a slave” comment?

Just by mentioning all these points gets me thinking. The people around Ronaldo surely has to have their hands full in handling his mental health, through the immense barrage of press attacks. There isn’t a single player in the United dressingroom that is living under the same amount of scrutiny, under such a huge magnifying glass. Not a single day goes by without any new Ronaldo news. All kinds of people are asked to share their thoughts on him (even Gordon Banks had to say something…), all which accumilates to an insane amount of press coverage. Hell, even his mum most get sick of him.. but is all this really his fault? I’ll let you make up your own minds about that one.

Right now, I can’t care less on the current situtation. Fergie will do whatever is best for United as a club, and that’s more than enough for me. If we end up selling him, fine. Just make sure that Real and their banks really feel it.

If he stays; (and this is VITAL) we have NOTHING to gain as a club, as a team or as fans by booing our very best player. Sure, we’ll send “the ungrateful cunt” a message, but will that really benefit the team? It’s the same thing as with Giggs the last two seasons; booing is not helping the player to perform. Not when it’s coming from your own fans. He’ll start underperfoming, we might loose games, Fergie might bench him and his value will plummet. That only hurts the club. Ronaldo couldn’t care less.. He’ll become cheaper and more available for other clubs. Why not try do make the best out of the situation, and let him (and United at that) get on with the game?

Remember, he’s given us some glorious moments: A fantastic debut against Bolton, showing of the immense potential and lifting the entertainment value sky high. Dazzling us (and opponents) with skill, (remember Ashley Cole, on his backside?) Some amazing, crucial goals. Fulham, Sporting, Roma away etc.. And freekicks to die for. I’ll never forget that Pompey strike, EVER.

We need to put the ball in his court and he needs to tell the fans what he wants, but we all know he wants to go to Real, end of.

We should not have to coax him into staying, be nice to him because he has shown us no respect, and thats all the fans were doing to him.

That would be a great ending to a twisted, sometimes sad and of course partly amazing story.

The press do create problems but there is no smoke without fire and all he has to do and come out and say, “I want to stay”. He is not doing that beacuse he wants out, and he won’t say he wants out because he would no doubt be fined or not recieve some loyality bonus if sold.

I really don’t care if we sell to Madrid or Maidstone, as long as we sell sell him on our terms and to the highest bidder.

@ Primachenko and Jimmy The Weed, I agree with your sentiments wholeheartedly, but like you say, having a transfer trade off for Ronnie among all other clubs than Real M, will not be easy, and will be resisted by CR7′s advisors. If he stays in the end, it will be sweet singing on the terraces to Real Madrid bastards, “Madrid can’t get no satisfaction, they can’t get no Ronaldo reaction, and they tried, yes they tried, yes they tried, and they tried, hey hey hey.” Thank God for the Rolling Stones!. I am more enraged and pissed with Real M to be honest. I def agree with you though, that Ronaldo won’t be getting songs from much of the terrace faithful at OT. He has lost the accolade big time. Fergie may just be waiting for the media whirlwind to subside, and the quiet to descend, before Ronaldo gets the hairdryer like nobody ever got it before. Who knows how all this is going to end – hahaha – its like we have a Fergie will he/wont he keep or sell saga now, isn’t it?????????