Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester City performed ‘chess move’ by tricking Manchester United into re-signing forward Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes ahead of the launch of their 5-A-Side bet on Man City v Liverpool (h/t Express), former City star Shaun Goater said that his old club had tricked Manchester United into re-signing forward Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.
Ronaldo made a sensational return to Old Trafford last year, coming back to the club where he made his name as a goal machine after leaving for Real Madrid in 2009. During his time in England, the Portugal international won three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with the side.
Goater, who played for the Cityzens between 1998 and 2003, said that his former employers were never really going to sign Ronaldo, because Pep Guardiola’s teams always played for the team rather than for individual glory, which the ex-striker believed was not suited to the ex-Real star’s style.
“When I saw that news break that he’d signed for them (United), as a Manchester City fan, I thought it was good for us. I don’t think City were ever really going to sign Ronaldo. Pep’s teams play the way they play because it’s about the team, not about the individual – and so I truly don’t think it would have ever worked.”
Last summer saw a lot of drama take place in the city of Manchester, with rumours about Ronaldo making a move to City from Juventus. It is said that a phone call from Sir Alex Ferguson convinced him to make a dramatic u-turn on this transfer, and returned to the Theatre of Dreams instead.
“Really smart chess move from City”
The 37-year-old started the season in fine fashion, marking his second debut at the club with a brace against Newcastle United. However, in recent weeks, the Portuguese star has waned in his performances as the goals have dried up since the turn of the new year.
Goater said that the plan to force United to sign Ronaldo was a really smart chess move from their city rivals, who thought a few steps ahead and had an eye on the next summer transfer window to chase a striker with the Red Devils out of the game.
“It could be a really smart chess move from City, who have already thought a few steps ahead, maybe with one eye on the next summer transfer window, and by forcing United’s hand into signing Ronaldo, it’s likely to be one less team who are going to go after a striker this summer.”
There has been much debate about whether Ronaldo was the right fir for this United team, given his age. At 37, the player is well past his prime, and many questioned whether the Old Trafford outfit was making the correct decision in signing an old player to lead the line for them.
However, despite his recent form, there is no doubting that having the ex-Juve star in the team makes us stronger. His absence from the team was certainly felt against Leicester City over the weekend, with a target man missing from the side as we were held to a 1-1 draw against the Foxes.
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He may be old, but his age has never been a factor in his performances for the club. Ronaldo is known for keeping himself in immaculate condition, and with regards to doubts about his ability to perform at the highest level, the player made a statement against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break by scoring a hat-trick.
The No.7 may not last long in Manchester, but there cannot be any doubt that the Red Devils made the right choice in signing him this season. He is the reason why the club made it into the knockout stages of the UCL this term, and we can hope that he also fires us to a top-four spot by the end of the campaign.
As for Goater, maybe he should consider the possibility of what would have been had City got a finisher of Ronaldo’s ability this season- and if the lack of depth in the number 9 position is the reason why Liverpool are chasing them down for the title.
