I was saying that Ronaldo is today undoubtedly one of the top 3 players in the world alongside Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho (who i my mind is way superior to Kaka). In Cantona’s heyday, there were at least 10 players who were his superior if you look at it objectively, which cannot be said today of Ronaldo.

Comparing players from different eras is pointless; suffice it to say that Ronaldo is the best player on this current team – and that’s saying a lot, considering the talent of Rooney and Tevez and the incredible promise of Anderson.

Will he stay ? CR7 is a young man with an unlimited future as well as no obvous allegiances. Being a peripheral Portuguese – from Madeira, not the mainland – also has to be factored into any consideration on this subject. For Ronaldo – as opposed to, say, Wayne Rooney – the EPL is not the center of the univerise; nor can anyone believe that the socia life for a young, handsome gazziilionaire in Manchester is “better” than the high life in Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, or London.

My sense is that Cristiano Ronaldo will stay at UTD as long as the Fergy/Quieroz axis remains in power – from what I gather, these two have been like “godfathers” to him and that is probably the single most important factor in the equation.

You know that David Beckham and Ronaldo are the only United players to make the top 3 in the World since the 60s. Is Ronaldo better than every player United have had since the 60s, with the exception of Beckham? I’d go with no. Your logic suggests he is.

However, and this is a big however, Ronaldo has some ways to go before he’ll mirror either Cantona or Best in the affections of the United faithful. Indeed, he has a long way to go to match Wayne Rooney in that regard. Ronaldo needs to commit to the club more than just in words – the fans need to believe him, to view him as United thorugh and through.

Rooney came to United at a later date than Ronaldo, remember, yet somehow it’s Rooney most of us love the most. It has to do with his attitude and his love for the club. Where Rooney says things like “I will stay at United for the rest of my career, it’s the best and biggest club in the world”, Ronaldo says “Who wouldn’t want to stay at one of the biggest clubs in the world?” and “one day I dream of playing in Spain”.

Only when Ronaldo fully commits to United will he rival Best and Cantona as United legends.

in any case, this is just me opinion, i hope not, really love the player and his transformation which SAF brought about and his play with the team! bang on ronaldo!!

btw, anyone following the huntelaar saga? that is one player i hope, really really hope, we get. a little disappointed and wary that chelski got anelka – sigh – i think its a good buy for them…. hope he sulks with shev and ballack, and throws the team into chaos…but i doubt it

Ronaldo is a different player to any I have seen or heard about- one whose primary attribute, like a typical exciting winger, is his pace and skill, but also one who can shoot, pass, head etc.

His strength and aerial prowess makes him different to Best, his pace and position to Cantona, and, although Edwards did, at times, play in advanced roles, he was generally a far more defensive player than Ronaldo.

Not to say Ronaldo is better than any of them though…yet.