In the summer of 2003 the world's brightest prodigies Ronaldo and Kaka were on the move.
United landed their man for £12.5m from Sporting Lisbon and AC Milan captured their quarry for £6m from Sao Paulo.
The progress of the pair built up into an absorbing face-off.
Kaka, who is three years Ronaldo's senior, won the European Footballer of the Year Ballon d'Or last year and was named FIFA's World Player of the Year for 2007.
He had won the Champions League with Milan and the world was his oyster.
For the second year running Real Madrid, who else, attempted to lure the South American midfielder to the Bernabeu.
His father and agent allegedly held talks with the Spaniards. A £56m offer was on the table for the Italian club.
But Kaka stayed put and pledged his future to Milan.
Disappointing
Despite a disappointing Serie A campaign this term, with Milan finishing fifth, he signed a two-year contract extension in February to keep him at the San Siro until 2013.
There is no Champions League stage next season for Kaka with the club only qualifying for the UEFA Cup instead.
But there have been no noises about jumping ship and Milan expect Kaka to lead the team into the new Italian season in August despite the fact he won't be on the ultimate platform he has previously illuminated.
Unless there is an unforeseen rethink around the corner, Kaka has revealed an admirable quality in not agitating for a move away from the San Siro to ensure Champions League profile again.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, despite signing a lucrative new five-year Old Trafford deal at Easter 2007, has been at the centre of a drip, drip campaign of quotes placing his future with the European and Premiership champions in doubt.
Insisting he has not decided where he will play his football next season has kept the saga boiling while family and friends, Real Madrid and United legends keep the see-saw `will he stay, will he go?' drama active 24-7.
Tarnished
Real's role in the now tedious story has angered United just as their attempts to lure Kaka from Milan annoyed the Italians and tarnished the Spanish giants' image.
Ronaldo may argue he has achieved all he can at Old Trafford.
There is a degree of understanding for the argument that, having been top-scorer twice with 23 goals and 42 goals in the last two seasons and won two Premierships and the Champions League, then nobody could complain that the Portuguese winger hadn't paid his dues in his five years at the club.
But United have also stood their part of the bargain.
The Reds were the only club to put cash on the table in 2003 when he was capturing the imagination as a raw 18-year-old.
They nurtured him and Sir Alex Ferguson and the United support stood by him in the wake of the World Cup 2006 winking incident with Wayne Rooney.
Fergie threw his protective arm around him in the same way he shielded Eric Cantona in 1995 after his Kung Fu kick at Selhurst Park and David Beckham after the hate campaign in England following his World Cup red card against Argentina in 1998.
Both Cantona and Beckham's careers could have plunged into chaos but for Fergie's intervention.
Ronaldo, too, could have forsaken the last two years at United had the Reds boss not persuaded him he'd be looked after by the club after 2006.
United have also negotiated money-spinning contract deals for him to ensure he remains among the club's top earners.
Ferguson is set to stay for another two years at least. Another couple of campaigns in a burgeoning team set up to dominate at home and abroad is surely no hardship for the player.
Come the end of that two years Ronaldo would be 25 and still not really in his prime. Real Madrid would still be waiting and with seven years' wonderful service at Old Trafford behind him, no Red would deny him his so-called Spanish dream.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Good comaparison. The problem though is that the British Media, and the M.E.N are just as bad, treat the rubbish,pathetic non- stories from Marca e.t.c with credibility rather than the contempt they deserve. Ronaldo has stated contless times that he wants to stay and he is very happy. He even hinted a couple of months ago that he could easily spend another decade at O.T. The press though are fascinated by the whole Real Madrid Ronaldo thing, so were constantly bomarded with Ronaldo mania based on quotes that aren't even true.
really. According to the Spanish press though when they were harassing him and Milan as they are now doing to us and Ron, Kaka was "dreaming in white" and "told close friends he wants to go to Madrid" and "has agreed a deal with Madrid to be the highest paid player in the world".
Does anything sound familiar? Whoever wrote this article must be a Bitter trying to fan the flames and weaken United by turning fans against him even more.
Before the inevitable rants come about loyalty just think to the past. Think of Keane mentioning his admiration of Juventus and Bayern (Note not Real as Keane does not suffer that kind of nonsence) or almost leaving on a Bosman if they refused to pay him double the top earner at the time. Was he anything other than loyal to Man U?
This has always been about Real Madrid playing you. Don't fall for it. Turn it around back in Madrid's face. Sing for Portugal and Ronaldo. Get the Portuguese against them. Think about it.
Funny how lots of players can commit to their clubs when signing new contracts....so once again when we have lots of posters saying why should he, because it is the right thing to do!
A firm "I am staying,I love it here" was all we asked of you Ronnie, not a "I like it here,but ..........."
Guys, what are all these rumours flying around teamtalk about Kaka being in manchester?????? Apparently, he will sign for us?????
Nicely put Steve. If there are any Utd fans going to one of the Portugal matches why don't you hold up a big banner saying "Utd for Portugal" or some such thing? It might help. Might even get in the papers, stranger thing's have happened.
Of course Kaka stayed. They renegotiated his
contract several times.
sell him, buy a good striker and wide player who want to play for us.
Although there has been a lot a press rubbish you can't deny Ronaldo has done nothing to stop it.
If Real are his boyhood dream then let him go. I owuld rather see a great fee then a huge bust up with SAF and his motivation deteriorate. Who's to say Real will be looking him in 2 years or he will be the same player?
MUFC are bigger than any one person and there will always be someone stepping up to the plate. Rooney would shine much more for one thing.
Good luck Ronnie and thanks for the service, and if you stay a while longer.. even better!
Just notice that Big Phil signed for Chelski. It is another reason why he asked Ronaldo to sign for Real earlier!!!
If Spain meets Portugal in the Euro 2008 finals, CR will be get a taste of how the Spanish fans will treat him if he goes to RM. MU fans stood by him and supported him (even in away games) throughout his difficulties with English fans after WC2006. I hope he's smart enough to remember this. Kaka has shown him that sometimes loyalty means more than money.
Mushty you need to stop believing everything that you hear... I don't think Kaka wants to leave Milan because he feels he can help them back into the champions league.
Problem is the fact that the London based newspapers and media want him away from OT so that their beloved London clubs may have a clear run.Don't forget,they have got to look good for the 2012 Olympics!