I was only 9 when he debuted and I knew I was witnessing something special. I haven’t felt that way since. A once in a lifetime kind of player.
SAF about Cristiano Ronaldo (France Football)
- Thread starter Ecstatic
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Yeah -me too! What an amazing leader. On Ronaldo, fantastic player and have wished him well even after he left us. But I never was totally bought into him for some reason. Perhaps it was all the diving and hogging on to the ball at the beginning that got me off on the wrong foot with him. Interesting to hear SAF’s comments on how well liked he was in the dressing room. Always felt he was not a great team player and a tad self centred. This is not taking away from the great service or contributions he made to the club.
Ronaldo forcing through his move to Madrid stopped us winning the Champions League again and really cementing a legacy like the great Milan sides of the late 80s/ early 90s. Well that and the piss poor recruitment process under the Glazers that saw us selling the best player in the world and expecting to still function at the same level by signing Valencia and Michael Owen. That 80 million was spent on the debt and our club has never been the same since. We were coming off winning the league 3 years in a row - since 2009 we have won it twice - and none at all since 2013.
He’s a legend for both teams. Just like Pirlo is and many others.
It’s nonsense to say he isn’t a United legend when he gave us so much. He would easily be in the all time greatest United XI.
This
I agree. It's also anyone's prerogative to think he let us down and tarnished his name at United by pushing for a move to Real but I can't stay angry at the guy for wanting to play for them.
If that makes me naïve and supine so be it, I just want to remember the good times.
I don't think SAF says something very interesting here. Imo, he isn't right that Ronaldo was on the same level as Cantona and Scholes. Even when he was 22-23 y.o. he was better - perhaps at the level of Best or thereabouts.
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He would be a United legend for the playing style he showed here alone even if he had won nothing. He was SO entertaining from 2003 till before the world cup 2006, all he wanted back then was to show his skills and it was so much fun. After that world cup was when he started slowly reducing the frequency of these skills and tricks, although until he left he still did them alot. How can we forget that moment in the Arsenal game where he used dazzling footwork and freestyle to slow the game down in the last minute for example ? At the end of it all, players are defined by moments.
Excellent interview,his fondness and admiration for Cristiano seems so genuine....
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I feel the same because he's the reason I started supporting football/United.
My only regret is that he didn't stay longer. I understand he wanted to play for Madrid at some point. But when you think about it, 6 years here wasn't that long. Wish he stayed a solid 10 and left at age 27 or so. We would definitely have a few more trophies.
How many of those players came close to winning world player of the year and were desperately wanted by Real Madrid? Those players were also never in the same class as Ronaldo when he hit his United peak. Not comparable at all.
Ronaldo was always going to Real Madrid at some point. I don’t support United but I would consider him one of your best ever players and he’s a PL legend.
It’s laughable to think that a Utd player who won the world player of the year award doesn’t qualify as a club legend.
All that interview does is make me miss fergie even more 
The greatest
The greatest
People's criteria differ though. To some sentimentality matters. Using the club as a stepping stone, and generally not wanting to be here isn't looked upon favourably by many. He's the best player the club ever had, but for some that isn't enough. Charlton, Giggs, Cantona etc are all synonymous with the club. But would you ever put a statue of Ronaldo outside the ground when he's more renowned for playing in white than red?
SAF loves him like his son I think. I also think he sees himself in Ronaldo in term of how to get on top and stay there as long as possible while proving his doubters wrong again and again. All the winning mentality and attitude.
Ronaldo is a legit Manchester United legend.
Anyone saying otherwise is still bitter for Cristiano acting like a wimp during his last year with us.
Anyone saying otherwise is still bitter for Cristiano acting like a wimp during his last year with us.
I'd out him joint top with Messi, without a shadow of doubt.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Man United legend. The fact that he is a bigger Real Madrid legend, changes nothing.
favorite manchester united player of all time. no other player has given me the highs he gave me as a fan.
He's obviously a United legend. People need to chill.
Also, did he really give all his best years to Real? The step he took up after leaving wasn't that big, imo. He got slightly more clinical and stronger in the box, but he was essentially the same player.
Also, did he really give all his best years to Real? The step he took up after leaving wasn't that big, imo. He got slightly more clinical and stronger in the box, but he was essentially the same player.
He was probably acting dumb so he could sign him for Chelsea instead.
He's more of a Real Madrid Legend than a Man United one. But he did turn out to be more than a one trick pony for us.
I completely forgot he was only 23 when he left! That's mental. He was so good at 22.
I think he is just proud to see how his former kid become a superstar. No doubt that Ronaldo was like a child to him where he nurture him
If you could have SAF or Ronaldo back for 3 seasons, who would you all pick?
Considering Ronaldo is on the decline now and is 33 in February. If you mean the Ronaldo of 4 to 5 years ago then your question would be him for me.
But right now I would probably say Sir Alex, as long as he had the hunger, drive and energy of when he was at United. As he is old now and been out of the game for a few years maybe he wouldn’t have the energy to do the job.
Would Sir Alex do much better thab Mourinho this season anyway? We are 2nd in the league only behind a City team set to break all kinds of records and still in every competition.
All points considered, I would have Ronaldo, just because Mourinho is doing a great job this season.
I would summarize it as any player who wins a world player of the year award playing for your club is automatically a legend.
As in remember that Utd player who won the world player of the year award? What a legend.
Right now in our situation I would take SAF. Would rather both obviously but...
Wow, talk about click bait. The guy is easily top 2 together with Messi, they both have five Ballon d’Ors to show for it. Both have a longevity and consistency the rest can only dream about.
The Ballon D’or is not what it used to be. But if we are talking about awards, Pele won 3 world cups and scored over 1000 careers goals, Maradona won the world cup and also won Serie A with Napoli against the bigger Italian clubs. Di Stefano won 5 European/CL trophies.
Just because we were not alive to see other greats does not mean they shouldn’t get the recognition they deserve. Especially when people want Messi and Ronaldo to be the 2 best ever all because “we were alive to see them and football has changed and is more demanding so they must be better” and every other cliche.
I think it said a lot when after winning the European cup SAF stood there to give Ronaldo congratulations and you saw a jubilant Ronaldo react with "BOSS"!! He was obviously very happy to see him again, and at that moment i thought that Ronaldo looked at Fergie as something of a father figure even. Perhaps that relation is understandable, young talents get removed from home at quite a young age, he was 18 when he joined united afaik, i presume SAF poured quite a lot of time in him at that age if only so he wouldn't feel homesick.
Why is it either or? Ronaldo is a United and Real Madrid legend. He became the worlds best player at United, and was in that time the best player we ever had. And the most important player in the best team we’ve ever had. He was here longer than Cantona, another United legend. The class of 92 are also legends, for different reasons. The Busby babes for different reasons. Charlton, Law, Best, for different reasons.
If anyone, Best is who Ronaldo reminds me of. Both fiercely dedicated, a head above the rest in ability, huge egoes, but both had a bigger love/ghost than United, keeping their years of excellence here limited, and still legendary.
Robson and Scoles where my biggest heroes, but Ronaldo was the boyhood fantasy come true in my own club.
Once that first flirt with Real came about as his star rose him leaving the club was inevitable. Im just glad to say I saw him play for this club. Super player and a fantastic guy off the pitch. One of the best of my lifetime.