Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has taken a page out of Real Madrid’s playback to openly tap up one of their players via the media.
After United’s win over Watford on Saturday, van Gaal reignite the Ronaldo to United rumors by saying:
“Ronaldo plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals. There is no trainer in the world that doesn’t like him.
“Of course we are looking — but are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable.
“With Ronaldo, let’s wait and hope.”
The 30-year-old strike has been regularly linked with a return to Old Trafford in the past two years and it is strongly felt he will be allowed to leave the Bernabeu next summer as manager Rafa Benitez looks to build a team around Gareth Bale.
Van Gaal complained last week that his current squad doesn’t have enough pace in wide areas, but wouldn’t Bale fit United’s needs more than Ronaldo? He is younger, faster and cheaper?
United are one of the few teams in the world that can afford a £60 million transfer fee and £250,000-a-week wages, but with revenues expected to top £500m this season, paying for Ronaldo is not an issue. The question is whether it makes sense for a player who will be 31 next season and is starting to show signs of age.
One person who has no qualms about United going after their former stat is former red Gary Neville, best friend of United assistant-manager Ryan Giggs, who tweeted last week:
‘I would sign Ronaldo tomorrow. Of course I would.’
Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain would probably be the only realistic rivals with Ronaldo saying recently he wouldn’t want to wind his career down in America or Qatar. I cannot see Ronaldo going to Chelsea and joining up with Jose Mourinho as that relationship did not end well in Madrid.
That leaves United and PSG to battle it out for the current Ballon d’Or winner. Both can afford the transfer fee and wages. The deciding factor might well be how each club does in Europe this season. Ronaldo wants to continue to win trophies, especially the Champions League. The question then is whether he feels he can win that again in Manchester or whether Paris gives him a better chance?
Where do you think Ronaldo will be playing next season?
