Stunned United fans outside Old Trafford were coming to terms with losing their team's best player as news filtered through of Ronaldo's £80m transfer to Read Madrid.

But most believe it is an offer the club couldn't turn down.

Greg Sharples, 45, from Salford said: "I'm pretty gutted. It was his dream at the end of the day so you can't blame him, but I think he'll regret it.

"He'll be missed but it's the home grown players, the loyal ones like Giggs and Scholes, that the fans like to see, and we've got some good 'uns coming through.

"It's a sad day for the Premiership losing someone of his quality. He'll be missed."

Supporter Joseph Kalokoh, 37, said: "Let him go. I think we can do better without him. There's always days like this, but we're still doing things, still making history. He's a fantastic player but that's football and in the modern game it's all about making money."

Gareth Taylor, 16, from Chorlton said: "I'm devastated really. I've just heard the news on the radio five minutes ago. People will get over it eventually but it'll take a long time.

"He's always wanted to play for Real Madrid. He's done good things for us and it's a lot of money.

"I don't know how the fans will react. There's been some negative comments but let them say what they like."

Sharon Pitchford, 35, from Worsley said: "Is he going? I hadn't heard, but 80 million, if that's right, is a lot of money, and we could buy two world class players with that money.

"Apart from his looks and his body, he's also a wonderful player."

Well-known Old Trafford stalwart Peter Boyle, 39, said: “It is quite surprising in some ways. Loads of people have played for this club and the club always moves on.

“Six years ago when David Beckham was leaving people were saying 'how can United survive' but Sir Alex knows what he's doing and I've got every confidence in him.

“No one wants to see their best player leave but at the end of the day if they don't want to stay it's a great price and let's move on, carry on winning things.

“If Sir Alex has wanted to keep him I think he would, but in the current financial climate it's an awful lot of money to turn down.

“Beckham when he left was on the front pages as much as the back, but I look back on him as a wonderful player, and I'll view Ronaldo in the same way.

“Great memories and how he's helped us win trophies over the last few years.

“If United are struggling halfway through the season and missing the spark, maybe they'll be resentment but if we continue to win and invent new heroes, life goes on.

“Personally I like Frank Ribery but I'm not sure about the manager. We can always speculate.”

David Meek, former Manchester United correspondent for the M.E.N said: “From the fans' point of view it was going to happen sooner or later.

“I'd hoped personally it was going to be later because he's such a wonderful goalscorer and player.

“I actually feel a little bit cheated in that sense but I respect the dynamic of the team that Sir Alex has created and think it is obvious he's taking the view that Cristiano was becoming a distraction, in the same way David Beckham was.

“He became a celebrity footballer, bigger than the team and Sir Alex believes in one for all and all for one.

“When you get an offer of £80m to remove a problem, you take it.

“Ronaldo has always had a bit of a rough ride with United fans. They didn't take to him when he first arrived, because of his diving.

“He improved in that aspect, but there has been little things like when he sits on his backside when he's knocked over, flaps his arms around, and then all the talk of going to Madrid.

“He was beginning to get up the fans' nose. They like a player who wants to wear the red shirt.”

Lifelong fan Gary Warnock, 39, from Southport, said: “It is not a great shock. It has been coming since the start of last summer and was inevitable. I think anyone would miss someone of Ronaldo's quality in their team but United always bounce back.

“We did after Cantona left and I'm sure Sir Alex will have two or three players lined up.

“When Ronaldo wanted to go himself, to follow his dream of playing for Madrid, he's going to be difficult to keep hold of.

“His attitude was not too bad last season, he still gave his all in most games but sometimes maybe the effort wasn't there.”

Fan Fiona Geldart, 22, came for the Old Trafford tour wearing her Ronaldo shirt and found out on the way her hero was leaving.

“Absolutely gutted,” she said. “I thought he'd stick it out for another year, I didn't think he would leave so soon after the Champions League Final but maybe losing that match was the final straw.

“He was saying a couple of weeks before how his heart was at Manchester United and Fergie was a father figure, so I was really shocked when I heard. It's terrible news.”

Mike Sinnott, 22, from Banbury, said: “I'm surprised in a way.

“I knew he was going to Madrid at some point but didn't think it would be so soon.

“He'll regret it. I don't think they will challenge for the Champions League next year. They've bought Kaka and Ronaldo but they are still weak in defence, they will still leak goals.

“United will recover, we did after Beckham, Cantona and Stam. I'm not sure Nani is up to it but Ronaldo has run the show, so maybe players like Rooney will step forward.”

Season ticket holder Mike Price said: “I will really miss him.

“We now have a big gap to fill and I would rather keep the player that filled it, than having £80 million in the bank or spending it on an unknown quantity.

“But after all this is about Manchester United and somebody else will fill that gap.”
 

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