22nd May - United had been playing Chelsea for 26 minutes when Ron scored. Adoring fans singing Viva Ronaldo. Obvious choice for FIFA World Player. Fit as a butcher's whippet and never injured. Rumours that this girlfriend was the ONE. All that and a marketeer's dream. Top of the world.
8 weeks?
Turns out he was already injured and was in fact injured enough that it'll put him out of the game for months. Girlfriend going/gone. Angry United fans. Unenthusiastic Madrid fans. Nothing special in the Euros. Lots of potential World Player voters looking at the alternatives (Olympics anyone). And if anyone's expecting to sell a CR shirt (in any colour) then they'll need a great discount strategy.
Football eh? Bloody hell.
I still think he'll end up staying. United Vs Madrid? Club + contract Vs Player + moodswing? I don't think it's something United want to lose (in a couple of years time it'll be important that no one gets to debate why their contract doesn't really count because SAF is leaving etc etc).
So I try to visualise him playing for us next season and wonder if we'll ever find ourselves, if not singing then at least, humming Viva Ronaldo again. Oddly enough I can. Picture the scene. He's hobbled his way back to fitness after a couple of false starts and re-injuries from trying too hard and letting himself get kicked in an effort to prove something. A hostile away crowd on his back and singing Madrid songs to us - and he scores, saluting the opposition fans in a way you just know is going to get him a ban. I'd sing, I would, cool and scorned would go out the window, and I'd sing - I just would.
About 8 weeks after he comes back from injury - I reckon.
8 weeks?
Turns out he was already injured and was in fact injured enough that it'll put him out of the game for months. Girlfriend going/gone. Angry United fans. Unenthusiastic Madrid fans. Nothing special in the Euros. Lots of potential World Player voters looking at the alternatives (Olympics anyone). And if anyone's expecting to sell a CR shirt (in any colour) then they'll need a great discount strategy.
Football eh? Bloody hell.
I still think he'll end up staying. United Vs Madrid? Club + contract Vs Player + moodswing? I don't think it's something United want to lose (in a couple of years time it'll be important that no one gets to debate why their contract doesn't really count because SAF is leaving etc etc).
So I try to visualise him playing for us next season and wonder if we'll ever find ourselves, if not singing then at least, humming Viva Ronaldo again. Oddly enough I can. Picture the scene. He's hobbled his way back to fitness after a couple of false starts and re-injuries from trying too hard and letting himself get kicked in an effort to prove something. A hostile away crowd on his back and singing Madrid songs to us - and he scores, saluting the opposition fans in a way you just know is going to get him a ban. I'd sing, I would, cool and scorned would go out the window, and I'd sing - I just would.
About 8 weeks after he comes back from injury - I reckon.