Finally, the long awaited confirmation from the most controversial figure in world football has been said by the man in question himself. Cristiano Ronaldo will be a part of the Manchester United's squad for the 2008/2009 season. After performing of what many consider as the finest display of football in the modern era, by scoring over 40 goals in all competition last season, Ronaldo has been the main discussion and focus of the uncertain world of football transfer saga, especially during the Euro 2008 tournament. On that particular tournament, Ronaldo said in an interview that he wants to play for Real Madrid but it is not up to him. Madrid, not wanting to let another "merchandise seller" goes to waste, embraced Ronaldo's ambition of new challenge. They went for any means possible, including persuading Pepe, Ronaldo's team mates in the national team, and even go as far as influencing Ronaldo's closest person : his family. Not only that, they even said that they're willing to pay him a whoping 250 thousand pounds per week had he moved to Madrid, a sum that many expert said would create a lot of havoc in the professional football world, as noone has ever been paid that high before.
Ever since then, things had not going too well between Ronaldo and the Manchester United fans, who feel really dissapointed by their superstar's somewhat ignorant and arogant behaviour. Especially when Sepp Blatter said that what United to hold Ronaldo based on his contract as a "Modern Slavery", something that Blatter should've thought a thousand times before he said that a man who is paid 150 thousand pounds per week is a "slave", someting that Blatter later denied to have said after a lot of critics said that his remarks were offendable that hurts a lot of people who still live in poverty in other parts of the world, but ever since then United fans start calling Ronaldo with the nick name "Slave".
It was so much heat, that Fergie decided to have an eye to eye meeting with Ronaldo before the Manchester United African tour during the pre-season. Fergie later confirmed that both he and Ronaldo had reach an "Understanding" with each other and the Portuguese will stay with Manchester United. But a few days later, Ronaldo appeared on a TV interview and he denied that he had totally pledged his loyalty to the Red Devil and refused to confirm Fergie's statement. He said "It's normal that clubs want to sign a great player, I am a great player. Every season this kind of thing happens to me. I can be motivated where ever I play, whether in Madrid or Manchester. But the future is not certain, I can't never tell the future...".
Something that did not sit very well with the Red Devil fans... And it was all apparent in the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer testimonial match, where Old Trafford sang all the chants for every Manchester United player, except the chants for "Cristiano Ronaldo". It was clear that he had broke our heart, and it would be very difficult for him, if ever to mend it.
But at last, finally he said it himself "I am staying...". Not only that, it seems that Ronaldo has learned his lesson, not only he said that he will stay, he also apologized to the fans about his actions lately. "I never want to leave Manchester (United). Ferguson is like a second father to me, and yes we had met. He said his arguments, I said mine, but in the end we both agreed that it is best for to stay at Manchester United.".
Ferguson, on the other hand, warned him that he will not get a warm welcome at Old Trafford. But he also asked the fan to be a little "softer" towards him, because afterall, Ronaldo was the main reason we won the Double Title last season. In the end, I agree with what Ronaldo said.... Nothing is certain in football. Both Beckham and RvN had called Fergie "Their second father" before they were kicked out of the club, I do have a strong feeling that 2008/09 will be Ronaldo's last season with us. But in some strange feeling, I somehow predict that next season Ronaldo will be going to Madrid with a super trade package deal for Rafael van der Vaart. Van der Vaart used to be our main target before we signed Ronaldo, and I always like him, if I am able to see him in a Red Devil shirt, I will be very happy to have such an offensive and genius player playing for us....
But in the mean time, we have to stick with Ronaldo. And I hope he really delivers his promise to give his heart and soul for Manchester United, he knows he needs to do that to earn back the respect and love from the fans that (used to) adore him...
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