Assessing Ed Woodward’s latest comments, with regards Manchester United’s transfer policy, we have to assume that they are either desperate to spend loads of money or desperate for the fans to think they want to spend loads of money.
Last year there was talk of Gareth Bale coming to Manchester United and some reports suggested that the club bid more than Real Madrid for the player.
Ultimately Bale chose to go to Spain but it really was an indication of the fact that Manchester United are seemingly prepared to smash the current transfer record sign a true A-lister.
But you might argue that Manchester United are cash rich at the wrong time. Ed Woodward has been going on about how the club are prepared to break the transfer record. But who on earth on would they for this kind of money?
Looking around the world game right now there aren’t many, if any, players who would command a world record transfer fee.
James Rodriguez and Luis Suarez have moved on and the only other players who could fetch that sort of price – perhaps Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo – seem happy at their clubs.
Yet still Woodward speaks confidently about megadeals.
So how long, we wonder, before the old Ronaldo to Manchester United rumour kicks off again?
He only signed a new contract last summer but, having brought James Rodriguez in, there will be speculation that big names will leave Real Madrid this summer.
Di Maria and Karim Benzema seem like the obvious names to make way for the new man. But neither would command anything close to a world record transfer fee and neither should be on Manchester United’s radar – decent but possibly overrated players both.
So would Manchester United pay somewhere around the £90 million it would take to break the world record for a 29-year-old?
Ronaldo is of course a supreme athlete who looks as if he can not only play, but dominate the game, well into his 30s.
He’s never had a serious injury and still looks strong as an ox and as fast as he was at 22.
And we have little to no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo would be carried back from Spain by Manchester United fans if necessary.
It could also be argued that Manchester United never re-invested the £80 million that Real Madrid paid in the first place. So Manchester United could just give the Spanish back their money and get the world-class prodigal son in return.
Despite the cost and despite his age, Ronaldo would be a seriously popular signing for Manchester United and offer the sort of fillip that could take Manchester United back to the top.
Manchester United fans: Would Ronnie be worth the money at 29? And is this the record breaking transfer that Woodward is on about?
Fricken89/Daniel
Jul 23, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Hope so! 😉
He’s definitely worth the money!
Stuart Marriner
Jul 23, 2014 at 8:34 pm
So we let him play his prime at a European rival and then spend more to buy him back? Crazy! I loved watching him play in our shirt but it’s time for us to move on, he did…
Lawrence MALTA
Jul 23, 2014 at 9:38 pm
90 MILLION: I would give ninety million to BORUSSIA DORTMOND for Duo HUMMELS + REUS both talented stars.
UTD desperately need the services of these two stalwarts.
Tell LVG Go for these players as quoted above and would see that UTD have invested wisely.
Drewan Danehal
Jul 24, 2014 at 4:30 am
Nonsense article. Even if Real were willing to sell (they arent) Ronaldo wouldn’t be interested in returning unless United had a squad capable of consistently challenging for, and winning, the Champions League; in order to do that the board would have to convince half a dozen other world class players to the club who also aren’t available or interested.
dean
Jul 24, 2014 at 6:36 am
He would be well worth it like you say he’s they type of player that will play well into his 30’s. But woodward isn’t talking about a specific signing all he’s saying is the money’s there if it came to it, but like You say there’s nobody out there worth that. We need a CB and DM van gaal will do the rest I’d be happy with Vidal and Vermaelen hummels doesn’t look likely
Gideon
Jul 24, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Man u should try and use that money on Reus, Hummels and vidal instead of using it on Ronaldo. Those three players will help man u alot.