Ronaldo faces fight to restore tarnished reputation at United

Cristiano Ronaldo had the world at his feet in Moscow on May 21. The Manchester United winger had just helped the Premier League champions win the Champions League and, having scored 42 goals in an incredible season, it appeared that nothing could stop him being crowned as the 2008 World Footballer of the Year.

Fast forward just eleven weeks, though, and the 23-year-old Portugal international is faced with the task of rebuilding his reputation after a close season that has seen him openly defy United by declaring his ambition to move to Real Madrid and foolishly compare himself to a footballing 'slave.'

A disappointing Euro 2008 campaign dented his hopes of cementing his status as the planet's number one footballer and subsequent ankle surgery, that will keep him sidelined until late-September at the earliest, threatens to leave him playing catch-up on his United team-mates in the early months of the new campaign.

All of a sudden, Ronaldo's dream of emulating the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Kaka by being voted as the the world's best player no longer appears certain to end successfully this year.

It could all have been so different.

With the rain still pouring on the Luzhniki Stadium pitch following United's penalty shoot-out triumph over Chelsea in the Champions League final, Ronaldo insisted that he would be staying at Old Trafford, dismissing speculation linking him with Real Madrid.

Yet within an hour he had performed a U-turn by claiming that his future was not quite so certain after all. And with each passing day the saga continued as Ronaldo and Real seemingly took it in turns to talk up the prospects of a possible transfer.

While the speculation raged, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sat back on his end-of-season holiday in southern France with only one thought running through his mind — that Ronaldo would be going nowhere, whether he liked it or not.

Having signed a five-year contract at United in April 2007, Ronaldo had little room for manoeuvre.

But with Ronaldo entrenched in his position and United equally firm in theirs, Ferguson flew out from Manchester to Lisbon to hold talks with the player in mid-July.

“The meeting went well.” Ferguson insisted at the time. “We both made our points of view about where we stand and where the player stands. And what I can say is that he will be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance, he won't be sold.”

In the weeks since that meeting, Ronaldo has continued to agitate for his 'dream' move and it is understood that the player will return to Old Trafford imminently with the intention of pushing once again to be allowed to leave for Madrid.

Ferguson's patience is wearing thin with Ronaldo, but a sale remains highly unlikely this year. In twelve months' time, there may be different outcome, especially if Ronaldo's performances on the pitch betray a player determined to move on.

He can expect a frosty reception from his team-mates and Ferguson when he does return, having annoyed the squad with his perceived arrogance and disrespect for the club.

And the United supporters, who chanted his name ahead of all others last season, appear in unforgiving mood. Far from pleading with the club to do all it can to keep Ronaldo, many have called on United to cash in now in order to rid them of a disruptive influence.

With the legendary names of Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane having earned permanent places in the hearts of the fans, those same supporters believe that greater players than Ronaldo have graced Old Trafford.

And the young man from Madeira must start all over again if he is to win back the affections of the supporters and reclaim a place amongst United's pantheon of greats.