Is Cristiano Ronaldo Back To Manchester United?

The prospect of a deal, which seems to be becoming an obsession at Old Trafford, goes back nearly a year and goes some way to explaining what is now perceived as United’s ‘bungled’ activity during the transfer window. That ended up with United paying £5million more for Marouane Fellaini on deadline day than they could have signed him a few weeks sooner. And that was it.

As a consequence the club’s new chief executive Ed Woodward is already getting flak for being ‘out of his depth’. Maybe those who say recently departed predecessor David Gill could be missed as much as Alex Ferguson may have a point.

Heading back to England? Manchester United remain interested in re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo

But in his defence Woodward was adhering to a plot that Ferguson and Gill had hatched over a year ago to buy Ronaldo back from Real Madrid and with the financial backing of the club’s owners.
Effectively United had set aside all their funds this summer in the belief they could buy Ronaldo back…yes, at £80million and with a Galactico wage packet, part-paid by a unique commercial package with the player, part and parcel of United’s commercial expansion in the Far East, India and Africa.
Over the last year or so United have spent £2million on market research of how best to ‘grow their brand’ worldwide …and Ronaldo was seen as part of the project.

Late: Manchester United signed Marouane Fellaini in the closing moments of the transfer window

Under pressure: United chief executive Ed Woodward

It was only two weeks before the deadline that Woodward started to admit to people that the attempt to get Ronaldo would not happen during this window. Then a bit of panic set in.
The reason? Several factors. One was how long it took Madrid to sign Gareth Bale then Ronaldo’s own indecision, which was partly due to the change of regime at United.
And then there is the question of the incentives Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes would get to broker the deal. But already Ronaldo has started to make noises that he might not stay at Madrid for much longer.
He’s already had a dig at Bale, moaning that the Welshman’s arrival has forced his pal Mesut Ozil out of the club.
And I understand that Ronaldo’s people have now told Madrid that to sign a new contract with the club he wants to earn two million euros a year more than Barcelona’s Lionel Messi… whose basic is in the region of 10 million euros a year.
United could only compete with those wages on the basis of a renewed and complex commercial deal, but it’s not out the question given the potential global income on the back of Ronaldo.
And United do still have a No 7 shirt vacant...
A new attempt to bring back Ronaldo could happen in January or next summer. It is understood Ronaldo remains tempted by the romance of returning to United but if he and his advisers decide his future is all about money then he will end up at tax-free Monaco who have a strong working relationship with Mendes.

Exit: Mesut Ozil left the Bernabeu to join Arsenal for £42.5m on transfer deadline day

Target: Ronaldo wants to earn a lot more than Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Gareth Southgate or Gary Neville? That is the question.
FA top brass insist they will stick with Roy Hodgson whatever the outcome of this World Cup campaign. But despite that, if England failed to qualify for the finals - it remains a huge game against Ukraine on Tuesday - or are an embarrassment in Brazil, Hodgson himself may not have the appetite to carry on and could well prefer a role as technical director instead.
So who would take over the reins?
It won’t be a foreigner after the costly experiences with Sven Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Glenn Hoddle and Harry Redknapp, popular candidates with the fans, still have too many political opponents within the FA.

In the running: England coach Gary Neville

New role: Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate

In the balance: England are top of their group but far from certain of their World Cup spot

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So the strategy is - along German guidelines - to groom and promote from ‘within’, hence Southgate’s portfolio, which has a wider brief than just being the new manager of the Under 21 side, and Neville’s role as Hodgson’s coach.
I understand that some at the FA feel that Neville, despite never having coached or managed at club level, might be the best man given his candid approach but he might not wish to relinquish his media career.
But Southgate, who is giving up most media commitments, seems to aspire to the job and as it stands is the one who will get the job when Hodgson goes. Gareth or Gary? It would be interesting to see who England supporters would prefer.