First of all, in the interest of making sure I don’t get accused of any favouritism, I would would like to point out that I do not support Manchester United. I admire the way they play, but I don’t really like them. If you are a United fan, good luck to you- let’s agree to disagree. And while I am at it, I will also admit that up until fairly recently (about two years ago) I loved everything that Real Madrid stood for. If you go to the Bernabeu, you can’t help it. I know all about their dubious history, I know about the meddling from Franco that meant Di Stefano signed for them and not Barcelona. I know about the “financial favours” they got when they sold their training ground. For me, it was about the football.
Every year there is a transfer saga that drags on and on, and this year it has been that of Cristiano Ronaldo. Although the man himself has said very little, we have heard from his mother, his sister and various friends that he definitely wants to play for Real Madrid. Only that he definitely wants to stay at Manchester United. For obvious reasons- 42 of them last year- United don’t want to sell. Madrid, and especially club president Ramon Calderon, have been accused of underhanded behavior in their attempts to sign the Portuguese winger- a pursuit that has been going on for at least the past two years. It has been enough of a news story for luminaries such as Sepp Blatter, David Beckham and Pele to add their voices to the debate. Everyone in football seems to have an opinion. Some - like Beckham (suggesting he go to Madrid) and Pele (suggesting he honour his contract) have provided harmless sound-bites. Others, like that of Sepp Blatter- who suggested that if the player is kept in his contract he is a “slave”- are far more harmful. It seems like everyone has given their opinion on this transfer except the player himself. What are the repurcussions? Has he damaged his reputation? Why would he want to move? Is it ethical? It might just be the most contentious transfer saga (if any deal actually happens) ever.
Much has been made of the fact that Ronaldo has “publicly flirted” with Real Madrid, and that it might have damaged his reputation somewhat. Manchester United have accused Calderon and Madrid of deliberately trying to unsettle their player. There is certainly a large element of truth in this, as Calderon has had Los Merengues propaganda wing- the sports paper Marca- printing Ronaldo stories on an almost daily basis. United went as far as contacting FIFA over an “improper approach” for Ronaldo. What may have worked in Madrid’s favour is that FIFA takes a dim view of transfers being done without the knowledge of the “selling” club. Calderon’s approach has been brazen and unapologetic. To United, it may seem like Real are trying to tap their player, but to Calderon they are simply publicly declaring their admiration for another player. Both practises are equally unethical- a public or a private coveting is still a coveting- but one is legal.
This should be something Manchester United are perfectly well aware of. They may have complained over Madrid’s handling of the Ronaldo affair, but the “Sale By Media” isn’t an unfamiliar tactic at Old Trafford. At the same time as the club must deal with speculation on Ronaldo, they are happy to let speculation turn the relevant wheels, so they can secure Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs, despite refusing to meet Spurs’ asking price. Similar things happened when United signed Owen Hargreaves. Indeed, when Ferguson first moved to United, he was alleged to have tapped Aberdeen goalkeeper Jim Leighton up, to follow him. United should know as well as anyone, that when certain clubs come calling, there is little you can do to persuade your players to stay.
There are two far more pressing concerns about the whole saga. The first point concerns Ronaldo himself. If he genuinely wants to play for Real Madrid, then he will probably get his wish. The question is- why? Why would a player who is likely to get the World Player of the Year award, and who has just had a record breaking season at the European and Premiership Champions, want to move to a Madrid side who are only a year into their latest rebuilding process? Madrid are certainly the most glamourous side in the world, but they were well beaten in last years’ Champions League by a Roma side that Manchester United had put seven past a year previously. Granted, they have won the past two La Liga seasons, but they lost 7 games in 2007/08, more than anyone in the English Top 4. Their recent success has as much to do with Barcelona imploding, than any renaissance. Manchester United have the best manager in the world in Alex Ferguson. He brings 22 years of stability, and a knowledge of how Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo should play to get the best results. In the same 22 years, Real Madrid have had an incredible 21 different managers. Ferguson’s tactics allow Ronaldo the space and time he thrives on. He has effectively re-invented the forward line by having two hard working “strikers” in Rooney and Tevez, so that Ronaldo can feed off the chances they create. Would any other manager in the world be able to get the same results? While Ronaldo’s record at International level is exceptional (21 goals in 58 games), it is a long way short of his record for United. Mediocre sides like Serbia and Finland managed to isolate Ronaldo if he was left to play as “just” a winger (albeit a great one). Would Real Madrid change their famously rigid formation to accomodate a special player? They didn’t do it for Zidane…
Finally, and most seriously, there are the comments of Sepp Blatter. As anyone who has read my views on the man before will know, I am not a fan. His latest comments suggest that if United keep Ronaldo, when he wants to go to Madrid, then he will effectively be a “slave” (his words). Aside from the fact that, as UEFA pointed out, most slaves don’t earn £6m per year or spend £10,000 in nightclubs while shunning Paris Hilton, Blatter seems to be contradicting himself. He has always had a problem with English clubs wealth and the accompanying success, and Manchester United are the easiest target to pick on. You only need to go back as far as February, for a slightly more low profile case, when Blatter fielded an entirely different opinion. When a court of arbitration ruled that Andy Webster was allowed to walk away from his contract, Blatter decreed
“Because of this unfortunate decision, the principle of contractual stability, as agreed in 2001 with the European Commission as part of the new transfer regulations and which restored order to the transfer system, has been deemed less important than the short-term interests of the player involved”.
So, allowing a player to move when they want is “unfortunate”, but keeping them is “slavery? It is hardly surprising that these comments come from a man who has advocated “tighter shorts for womens football”, the golden/silver goal rule (abolished), no appeals for red cards, an offside rule nobody understands and effectively banning high altitude countries from their own capitals. The most damaging, and shortsighted of all, was the fact he used the word “slave”. Slavery is an unfortunate part of football. There have been various accounts of human trafficing, where players from Ghana and Cameroon were taken to Europe to play football, only to be abandoned. As recently as last year there were reports of 15 young Africans shipwrecked in the Canary Islands, after they were told they would get trials with Real Madrid or Marseille. Similar situations occur in South America, where players are “owned” by corporations, or agents. They have little say in where they play. No disrespect to West Ham fans, but Tevez and Mascherano cannot have expected to be West Ham players when they first went to Europe. Clubs all over Europe are desperate to uncover the next Essien, Weah, Drogba, Milla, Yekini or Eto’o and so they set up feeder clubs in these countries. It is here where the line between slavery and football is most blurred. The players might be better looked after, and they might actually have a chance of “making it”, but it is effectively a form of sport “strip mining”. What Blatter (and Ronaldo) need to realise, is that they are in incredibly privelidged positions, and they should think more carefully about their responsibilties.
