Signing Robin Van Persie made very little sense. Manchester United, at that time, were strongest in the attacking areas. They had Wayne Rooney still in his prime, Javier Hernandez as one of the shrewdest poachers in Europe and Danny Welbeck as the homegrown hope. But nonetheless, Sir Alex Ferguson saw it as imperative that United put together a £40 million package to sign a striker just about to turn 30 in the final year of his contract.
Money only matters so much, though. Did Man Utd get their money’s worth out of Van Persie? Pragmatically speaking, probably not, given that the Dutchman only found his best form for one season in Salford. However, in that season he was the driving force behind United claiming the Premier League title in Ferguson’s final season at the club. Nobody, not one single person, at Old Trafford begrudges the money paid for Van Persie.
Man Utd find themselves at a somewhat similar juncture this summer. For all their thorough transfer market planning, an unforeseen opportunity has arose with Cristiano Ronaldo revealing that he wishes to leave Real Madrid. The only feasible destination for the world’s best player being Old Trafford.
Of course, it’s debatable whether Ronaldo truly means what he says, whether the prospect of the Portuguese returning to England is a realistic one. Some believe, and with good reason, that this is merely a power play from the forward, perhaps forcing the hand to Real Madrid to offer him a new contract, or pay his £13 million tax bill. Right now, all speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s immediate future is dealing in the hypothetical.
Nonetheless, United would be foolish not to plan for the event that Ronaldo is being genuine. Jose Mourinho has drawn up a list of targets for the summer, securing the signing of Swedish centre back Victor Lindelof for £31 million last week. By all accounts, the capture of Alvaro Morata and Ivan Perisic is next on the list, with some reports claiming Man Utd are in the market for a second striker. Andrea Belotti’s name has been mentioned.
Chasing Ronaldo could compromise those plans. United have been here before, being led on a misguided pursuit for the Portuguese’s signature in the summer of 2013 before having to make do with the signing of Marouane Fellaini on deadline day. They mustn’t fall for the same trick again.
However, if Ed Woodward and Mourinho can use their connections with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes to determine that the 32-year-old’s interest in returning to the club is genuine they must do all they can to ensure that materialises. It would be worth ditching their summer plans to lure him back to Old Trafford.
At 32, Ronaldo will surely suffer a decline in his powers over the new few years. He has already adapted his game to compensate for his diminishing pace, transforming himself into the most opportunistic of number nines. With this in mind, there is a place waiting for Ronaldo at Man Utd following the release of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Mourinho is in the market for a goalscorer and Ronaldo is the greatest goalscorer in the game. Not to mention, the number seven shirt is currently available at United.
In that regard, a move for the Real Madrid forward makes sense, but in almost every other respect it doesn’t. Some things matter more than money, though. Ronaldo’s return to Man Utd would all but guarantee success to a club still looking for its identity in the post-Ferguson age. Even looking beyond the financial benefits of signing Ronaldo, of which Woodward will be acutely aware of, the return of the club’s greatest ever player would lift Old Trafford in a way no other signing could.
How many of those dismal home draws against lesser teams last season would Ronaldo have decided had he been on the pitch in a United shirt? This is a player who has scored at least 25 league goals for the last eight seasons. Is there any reasonable sporting argument that says United should reject the chance to sign him?
Money will obviously be a factor, and just as was the case with Van Persie, making a move for Ronaldo at this age, at this price, makes very little sense. He would return at a high price, the highest price in footballing history, with no sell-on value and with an expiry date on his supremacy. None of this should matter, though.
