So it's finally come to an end. The most protracted and annoying transfer saga in Manchester United history has ended with Cristiano Ronaldo finally getting his wish to look absolutely fabulous in all white whilst topping up his tan in the Spanish Sun.
Some will inevitably see the deal, and his request for it, as inconclusive proof of their belief he is an evil, diabolical, ungrateful little greasy wop bastard daego cnut who should be strung up and paddled for the sheer gall of wanting to play for anyone but Manchester United. And some will see it as a great opportunity to follow Spanish football for a bit since it's clearly on the rise again, always looked very entertaining on the telly and Barca were jolly good in Rome weren't they?
However not in here they won't. This thread is not Fraggle Rock and as such, muppetry is not welcome.
Instead I'm going to look back on an era that will go down in history, to the chagrin/delight of some, as the Ronaldo Years. Come with me on a journey through time and space, through rain and shine (though mostly rain) through ups and downs and through failure, but most prevalently success...
Ladies and Gentleman I give you......
The 6 Degrees of Separation: The Ballad of Cristiano Ronaldo
2003
Our Story Begins in Lisbon. After cunningly instigating Real Madrid's decline by selling them an aging England Captain and part time hair care spokesman, Manchester United set about trying to find his replacement after failing to convince the love child of Ken Dodd and Trisha that it only rained occasionally in Manchester. On a warm night at the opening of the Estadio Jose Avalade, an skinny 18 year old with a famous name and spaghetti stuck in his hair ran riot in a 3-1 defeat for the reigning English Champions. On the plane ride home the team raved about his talents and before you could say 'garish jumper' he was shipped over to Manchester, still apparently in his pajamas, and made the most expensive teenager in Football for 12.24 million.
In the 60th minute of the opening game of the 2003-04 season, a new star was introduced to Old Trafford, and after a devastating 30 minute cameo became the latest in a long line of Man United prodigies to be labeled 'The New George Best'. This time however, it was to be true. Or as true as one could possibly get.
He scored his first goal on the 1st of November and in the same manner as his predecessor, from a free-kick, against Portsmouth.
2004
After a stop start beginning to the season Ronaldo finished strongly. In an average season by United's standards, Ronaldo was the one truly bright spark. Beautiful strikes against Tottenham and Villa and a goal and Man of The Match display in the FA Cup Final helped him win the in-house Player of The Season award. Often criticized for his theatrics and over-elaboration his raw talent gave United fans enough of a glimpse of the future that awaited him, to reassure them that the famous No7 shirt was in good hands.
In the Summer he was called up to the Portugal Squad for Euro 2004 and despite defeat in the final, scored 2 goals and was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' alongside another young talent who was to become his team mate and eventual partner in crime.
2005-2006
After finally retrieving that lost piece of spaghetti from his hair, fixing his teeth and bulking up considerably, Ronaldo continued to improve over the next couple of seasons. Overshadowed somewhat by the imperious displays of his new teenage team mate (who had neither grooming, nor physical problems to consider) he still managed to chalk up more goals, and assists in each season. He scored United's 1,000th Premier League goal against Middelsborough and got both the equalizer and subsequent winner in the 4-2 away win at Arsenal...He capped his 3rd season at the club with another Cup Final goal, this time against Wigan in the Carling Cup, and, as before, used the opportunity to show off his subsequently more buffed and tanned physique. Rooney, thankfully, didn't follow suit.
He also picked up his first international award, scooping the FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year award which, despite sounding like something they give out to gallant contenders at the Special Olympics, is apparently a legitimate and worthwhile award.
Euro 2006 & Beyond
The first real test of character came in the summer. After Rooney had delicately attempted to prevent Ricardo Carvalho from ever having children, Ronaldo's subsequent protest & wink maneuver drew all the suppressed hatred, bile and xenophobia that lurks in sections of the English press & fan base, spewing to the surface. Just like Beckham before him, Ronaldo was pilloried, flogged and burned in effigy by the kind of base, knuckle dragging football fans that think singing '10 German Bombers' en mass in a packed German City Center is a good old fashioned harmless sing-a-long. It also began his long protracted flirtation with 'that mob', Real Madrid.
2006-07
Returning to England the most hated man since Gary Glitter decided his gang was getting a little thin and could do with an injection of youth, he set about proving his worth to the World. After combining with Rooney for the 4th goal in the 5-1 demolition of Fulham on the opening day, all sin was forgotten and he never looked back. Playing the best football of his career to date he destroyed nearly all comers, helping United to their first title in 3 years and becoming the first player since Andy (tickaboosun) Grey to win both PFA Young & Outright Player of the Year awards. The Last minute goal vs Fulham and the 7-1 battering of Roma will never be forgotten as long as those who saw them draw breath.
The Madrid Rumors abounded again but they were slapped down by a new contract. Only failure in Europe could diminish an astounding season of progression
2008
Unbowed by his achievements the previous season, 2008 was to prove a magical year for Cristiano. In it the greedy bastard won almost everything it was possible for him to. Scoring an incredible 42 goals, including his first and only Hat-Trick for the club he collected The Premier League, The Champions League, The World Club Cup. another PFA & FWA Award double, The Golden Boot, The Ballon D'or, World Player of the Year and the presumably a multitude of 'Special' Awards, not to mention ,crucially, 'Gay Times' Sexiest Man Alive' Award. He also scored another Cup Final goal (though this time deciding not to strip to the waist) making him one of the few players in history to score in the FA Cup, League Cup & European Cup Finals.
But once again the Madrid Talk wouldn't subside and after a ridiculous summer of to-ing and fro-ing, Ronaldo was finally convinced to stay by a presumably irate Sir Alex. The Boss had won, but the seeds were sown
2009
Despite a poor Euro 2008 and rather lackluster start to the season, Ronaldo picked up the pace towards the end of once again proved crucial to United's success. After initially refusing to celebrate his goals in what some perceived as a massive stroppy sulk, his dedication and professionalism cannot be doubted in the final stretch. Combing to great effect with his on-field brother in arms Wayne Rooney, United tore through the likes of Spurs & Arsenal on their way to a Hat-Trick of Titles and in his final hurrar,, gave us a performance of World Class brilliance by destroying Arsenal in their own back yard.
And I would implore you to remember him like that. His departure may leave a sour taste but his record is impeccable. Whether he should have stayed, or should have acted with more respect is irrelevant, and not for this thread. He has achieved more in his 6 years here than Best, Law or Charlton did and although he'll rightly never be remembered with the same reverence, his greatness is not in doubt and neither is the legacy he leaves the club with. Manchester United are arguably the biggest team in World Football right now, and if one player can take the most credit for our resurgence, it's him.
When he first joined as a scrawny unknown teenager, as a replacement for the most famous man in football, who could have said that 6 years later he would have helped us significantly to
3 League Titles
1 European Cup (+ 1 Runner Up)
1 FA Cup (+ 1 Runner Up)
2 League Cups
1 World Club Cup
292 Appearances and 118 Goals
Whether you love or loath him, this was his era. However he'll be remembered it must be said..
Sweet Dreams were made of this.....and who am I to disagree
