The United winger has managed to transfer his sought-after keepie-uppie skills to the guessing game over his future.
He has been keeping the United and Real Madrid balls in the air for months. But for Reds' fans at least the 23-year-old is close to losing control and dropping the United ball.
The groundswell of opinion is moving away from all-out determination to keep their 42-goal hero at Old Trafford to frustration and annoyance that he steadfastly refuses to nail his colours to the Red mast.
The Portuguese international has had numerous opportunities to end the Real Madrid saga once and for all.
So many times he appears to have made a stance to end the tedious endless speculation, declaring his affection for United only to then utter similar words of fondness for Real.
He has been playing a clever game of keeping the attention on him and both options open.
But his little teasing quips like, "I really like playing in a white football kit, the white national kit that is," following Portugal's Euro 2008 game against the Czech Republic when they won their second change strip is stretching the patience of the club and fans who've helped put him where he is today.
After World Cup 2006, I suggested United should consider selling Ronaldo.
It had nothing to do with his red card spat with Wayne Rooney. That was a minor incident.
It had everything to do with the player claiming even then that he wanted to go to Real.
I argued that Sir Alex Ferguson and United supporters wouldn't accept anyone voicing a desire to leave Old Trafford.
If you are not 100 per cent in the Red camp like Fergie and the fans then I believed they would jointly chorus "adios amigo".
I seemingly misjudged the situation and had a mountain of complaints telling me so.
The United boss and the majority of the Old Trafford support argued that at 21 and in a foreign country Ronaldo was unsure how England would react to his incident with Rooney.
That may have been so but the Madrid connection has never gone away thanks in no small part to the Spaniards' annual dirty tricks campaign to destabilise their No1 transfer target of choice.
Episode
This year's series of events surrounding his future has been the most testing and tiresome episode of the whole lot.
It's time he uttered three little words: "I am staying."
Or if he is determined to turn his back on all that United have given him then: "I am going."
Privately, he may have decided he wouldn't make any pronouncements until after Euro 2008 as in the form he is in then a high profile tournament would only add to his market value.
His form for Portugal has suggested his self-confidence was certainly not misplaced.
However, the time for this giant question mark to be dispersed must have arrived.
So what are the plusses and minuses of quitting Old Trafford that will have been filling Ronaldo's head?
PLUS: Sir Alex Ferguson - The United boss personifies stability. 21 years as boss at Old Trafford. In comparison Real installed a revolving manager's door many moons ago. Since Fergie entered his office at United in 1986 Madrid have had 21 coaches. In Ronaldo's five years at United the Spaniards have had seven men in charge.
PLUS: Carlos Queiroz - The Reds No2 has been a father figure to Ronaldo at Old Trafford. He experienced first hand the instability at the Bernabeu when he was coach in the 2003-04 season before being sacked.
If Queiroz is tempted to leave Old Trafford to take up the vacant Portuguese national post then the Reds will lose a significant major bargaining chip.
PLUS: He may think he has achieved everything in England having won FA Cup, Premiership and Champions League titles with United but next season the Reds will contest the Euro Super Cup and the World Club Championship - Real won't.
MINUS: Ronaldo has grown increasingly concerned over the on-field protection he gets in the Premier League even admitting he was scared of a serious injury after he was targeted during the FA Cup tie against Portsmouth in March.
MINUS: Real are reportedly lining up a double your wages pay deal for Ronaldo if he moves to Madrid.
He is currently on a £120,000 per week and the club won't be bullied into an increase.
The owners, the Reds' hierarchy and Fergie do not want to destabilise their pay structure and cause ructions among the squad by swelling Ronaldo's wallet just over a year after happily signing a five-year deal. Real have no such qualms.
United will go on without Cristiano Ronaldo. Real will go on without Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo will go on.
The world will go on without this summer saga.
But for pity's sake Cristiano make your mind up now and let's get this wearisome tale off the agenda.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
seasider, blackpool (16/06/2008 at 11:44)
“My future will be clear next week. Everyone will be pleased — my club as well as me. I think I will definitely be here next season. Yes, I want to stay. I have played five years for this club and I’d love to stay here. I love the people, the players are fantastic, the atmosphere is unbelievable, the staff are great. That is the reason I want to stay. We won the most important trophies this season. I want to do it again next season but no one knows the future. I want to stay, I feel very happy in the club. I win trophies, the people are friendly, supporters are amazing, everything is fun for me. It’s very good.”
There's a hint of angling for an improved contract but it seems pretty unequivocal, doesn't it?
andythered perth (16/06/2008 at 11:51)
One United (16/06/2008 at 11:53)
stevi, france (16/06/2008 at 12:09)
Gillian England (16/06/2008 at 12:25)
brian meanwell (16/06/2008 at 12:42)
Robbo, N2409 (16/06/2008 at 12:45)
mario (16/06/2008 at 12:53)
Show me the money, that's all that maters.
Fredrik, Sweden (16/06/2008 at 13:16)
75m is not enough. Ronaldo probably has 10 years left at the top. That means that you can sign the best in the world for 7.5m a year. ZZ and Figo were both in their late 20's when they were signed.
Robinho, Ramos and 60m are more like it.
Sam Davis (16/06/2008 at 13:16)
bobbydazzler (16/06/2008 at 13:20)
Sam Davis (16/06/2008 at 13:21)
Teresa20, Norwich (16/06/2008 at 13:22)
Red Dawn (16/06/2008 at 13:24)
Ronaldo hasn't said he wants to leave, infact, the only official quotes from him are that he wants to continue and is happy in Manchester, but, as he 'always' says, he want to play in Spain one day.
Why should the player have to come out time and time again to clarify his situation when speculation regarding his future appears in the press?
If people weren't listening to him on the numerous times he said he was happy and wants to stay, then tough. He has a Euro 2008 to concentrate on and ignores press speculation, because he isn't as gullible as the majority of the people sucked in by it all at the moment.
Ronaldo will not be sold this summer, nor will he ask to leave.
Stop believing what you read in the newspapers, because we should only talk if there is something 'official' to talk about, and whatever you do, don't play into Real Madrids hands by turning against the player, because that's part of the plan.
Duncan, London (16/06/2008 at 13:49)
Steve in Brussels (16/06/2008 at 14:22)
anyone capable of rational thought? The only correct thing in these articles is the games that the Real Madrid gutter press are playing. Most people ignore them these days even if it is irritating.
The whole aim is to turn Man U fans against their own player. The most likely game Ronaldo is playing is to smoke Nike out into better terms. The threat of leaving to an addidas team would ruin all the time, money & manpower they have put into the CR7 brand idea - so he could be 50k per week better off by being deliberately vague. Risky game though as the longer it goes on the more the muppets amongst the fans fall for the spanish nonsence.
If you believed the tripe from Marca and As the following players have all agreed terms and moved there over the years - Nedved, Mendieta, Messi, Rooney, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard, Essien, Stam, Nesta, Del Piero, Ibrahimovic, Henry, Fabregas, Kaka - even Eto'o was supposed to be going back who famously once said "Barcelon Campiones, Madrid Cabrones" ... when obviously they didn't.
As for the English press - come on. They have never changed. Do you think Man U workers will call the Mirror or the News of the World? Nope of course they won't. However - and take note - England did not qualify for the tournament, so there is nothing else to fill up tabloid space with. Editor: "We have half a page to fill. Write some more bull about Ronaldo quickly will you. Use the usual 'told close pals' or 'a club insider told us' or 'a club spokesperson talking exclusively to ....' ".
Seriously just try to use those dormant brains. One day the Sun has Real offering £150k per week, Then the Mirror has £180K and then the Express tops it with £300k. Wide differences eh? COuld it be that as with the Spanish bull merchants - and pay close attention - THEY ARE MAKING IT ALL UP - And Joe Red unable to grasp the situation starts waving the pitchfork and flaming torches raising a posse to run Ronaldo out of town.
Well done lads. The Southern English and Spanish press has played you for fools and predictably you fall for it hook, line and sinker. They will carry on playing you through the summer. Will you be burning him in effigy by then? Engage brains soon or else they might end up getting away with it.
Listen to Sam Davis - he lives in Madrid and believe me as someone who has also spent time living there - you certainly know what they are shovelling when you have lived there a while.
Michael Davies (16/06/2008 at 14:26)
GEORGE LYONS, COLLYHURST (16/06/2008 at 14:47)
game, set & match (16/06/2008 at 14:59)
Remember, the club is massively in debt and have to finance the Tevez deal and any business SAF wants to do in the summer.
It is unlikely Ronnie will ever again have a season like the last one and the longer the club leaves it, the close to the end of his current deal we will get. Both these aspects will drive down his market value over time.
Is it not just possible the Glaziers want to maximise his value? That would mean selling him now. But to yield the greatest value you need to make the buyer believe you don't want to sell, thus pushing up the price even further?
One of the side effects of such smoke and mirror dealing is that the player himself will not know where he will be next season. He can't burn bridges with either club if this is the position he has been put in, so he makes sure both clubs know, whatever the outcome, he will be more than happy to play for either.
double pole, trowbridge (16/06/2008 at 15:03)
Donald Farrer, Rochdale (16/06/2008 at 15:31)
Donald Farrer, Rochdale (16/06/2008 at 15:51)
16/06/2008 at 13:16 A thoughtful response. Well done.
NorthernGeezer, Manchester (16/06/2008 at 16:16)
This is all Ronnys fault by not pledging his future to the club that has quite frankly, made him the player he is.
Michio, County Louth (16/06/2008 at 16:29)
No. Even if Ronaldo was to come out and say categorically that he was staying at Utd the media would still be full of reports about what he 'really' thinks.
It's just the way things are. Blogs like this one simply help to fuel it all.
Game, Set & Match. The Glazer's bought Utd to make money. Selling Ronaldo to Madrid might help with the short term servicing of the debt (and in the current world financial climate there may be some attraction in that) but does nothing for the long-term leveraging of media exposure to grow the international fanbase and increase revenue from merchandising. Keeping him even for one more year will net them more than Madrid will pay. Defend the European crown and the coffers will swell by another 100 million.
Besides, the real figure Madrid would be willing to pay is closer to 30 or 40 million. They have no intention of paying 75 mill and never had. If they had they would have already made a bid.
If they do bid, expect an offer that Martin O'Neill would scoff at. A hodge-podge of player swaps and conditions spread over a number of years. To get him they need him to say in public that he wants to move. That's always been their aim. Unless he comes out and says that then the likelihood is he will stay, at least until it all starts up again next year.
Red Dawn (16/06/2008 at 16:47)
What Harris wrote in the Express is the biggest load of rubbish ever written. There is no truth whatsoever to it, and he has been writing article after article with quotes from Insiders etc for the past week.
He should hauled up over it. A disgrace is what it is.
I'm sure Paddy Crerand will say exactly the same on MUTV tonight aswell.