Cristiano has left the building

80 million pounds. Damn. That’s almost enough to buy some “big” football clubs.

It’s very difficult for me to say “good riddance” to Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s among the top 2-3 players in the world, and his face will sell buckets, nevermind t-shirts. Footballing-wise, he’s improved leaps and bounds from when he first joined in 2003, and he can honestly say he’s worked very hard as well.

But when it comes to the battle of hearts and minds, it is and always will be, very difficult to keep a Portuguese (and for that matter, most South Americans and non-Brit Europeans) from joining Real Madrid (more so for it’s history, but also for the $$$).

Cristiano (I always think of him as Cristiano, cos Ronaldo to me is the fat Brazillian ex-fenomeno) already left his heart in Real last year, and actually, it’s to his credit that he’s stayed (more or less) professional and played well this year, despite him knowing he’s joined Real. Although some might say, he only started playing well after he sorted out his Real deal in Dec.

Man U (and the “big” English clubs) have an edge in this “hearts and minds” battle in Asia (only because of the EPL coverage), but I cannot imagine the day will come when any major non-Brit player will willingly prefer to join Man U if Barca/Real come calling.

And that’s why, it’s imperative for English clubs to develop their own.

..ac