Over the summer, when Manchester United were in the throes of their major recruitment drive, Louis van Gaal referred to Angel di Maria as a winger of ‘the highest level’.
Notoriously guarded about transfers, many believed that Louis van Gaal was subtly courting the services of the pacey Argentine, whose signature was being coveted by some of the richest clubs in the world.
And Hey Presto! A couple of weeks later Di Maria had signed for Manchester United in a British record £59.7m transfer.
But, if we look at the actual quotes again, perhaps LvG’s intentions were twofold. Because he didn’t only mention Di Maria:
“It is a strategy of Manchester United to do that. At this moment, we have five No.9s and four No.10s – and we don’t have wingers to give us attacking width.
“Or, I should say, we don’t have wingers of the highest level, like Ronaldo or Di Maria or somebody like that. So, I have to play in another way – and you have seen that already. I only buy when I think we need to buy – in the position that is necessary.”
There has been talk of Ronnie coming back to United for a couple of years now. To start with it was seen as nothing more than newspaper punting sensationalism. But recent comments from Ronaldo himself – twinned with United’s huge summer transfer activity – have suggested that perhaps all is not well with him at Real Madrid and that a transfer could happen after all.
‘I love Manchester,’
‘Everyone knows that — I have said it many times. Manchester is in my heart. I left many good friends there, the supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day.’
If CR7 did return to Manchester United it would be an enormously popular move with the fans. Forget the cost or his age (he’s now 29 but supremely fit). This would be like the return of The Prodigal Son.
It would also, surely, mean Manchester United playing a 4-3-3. While we think that Di Maria could be a great wingback the same could not be said of Ronaldo. It would be mad not to fully utilise his goalscoring instincts at the top end of the park.
But a front line next season of Ronaldo, Falcao and Di Maria, with Rooney in behind, may compare favourably even to those of Barcelona and Real Madrid. A fascinating prospect indeed.
Manchester United fans: Will CR7 come home next season?
king
Sep 13, 2014 at 11:53 am
i dont think it will happen