Ronaldo? United are going to be the Real winners...
So the Perez effect is really happening. Real Madrid are breaking records daily at the moment. First Kaka, now Ronaldo. Maybe they will create an ecconomic equation to recognise the impact that this is going to have on European football. Perez seems set to assemble a squad brimming with attacking talent (although not sure that is going to do the trick given the dodgy defenders on their books) and a new era of Galacticos will be confirmed when the Portugal star puts pen to paper.
Anyway, I know that Ronaldo is an amazing player, and United have relied on him heavily in the past 24 months, but they have done the right thing to accept this offer, it creates such an opportunity for them to re-shape their attack. More and more the team has been lop-sided this past season as Ronaldo has been the pinnacle of their threat. Against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final, it seemed they were more and more reliant on the Winker to get them back in the game, very unlike United they looked out of other options.
This potential deal, and influx of cash, now paves the way for United to rebuild their attack, and I would not be surprised to see them change the way that they play for next season and modernise the 4-4-2 that has served Sir Alex so well during his years at Old Trafford. I think they will be able to get Ribery or Valencia (maybe both?), keep Tevez and maybe add another striker. I think Rooney will shift into a more central role alongside Berbatov, with real width coming back to the team - it also feels as though Fergie is ready to unleash his new crop of Young Guns on the Premier League. Gibson, Wellbeck & Macheda could be the ones rubbing their hands at Ronaldo's exit.
What is facinating now is how the market will react for the rest of the summer. What will Man City do? I have a feeling that their owners like to be the ones leading the spending trail - and I am sure that Kaka being sold for nearly 50% less than City offered in January will hurt their new owners. The problem they have is that none of the current 'World Class' players would go to City - but they will still definately want to make a statement this summer and I expect them to buy old, but very good players (Eto'o etc).
I think Madrid will be much stronger next year, and will certainly entertain with Kaka and Ronaldo alongside the rest of Los Merengues, but I think when it comes to the UEFA Champions League, United will be the real winners....
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