Does anybody remember back in the summer of 2021?
Cristiano Ronaldo was being linked to Manchester City and, when it turned out that it was all one big ruse by Jorge Mendes, there were some fans who were legitimately a bit gutted that this was the case.
After all, not many clubs could say they’d missed out on both Lionel Messi AND Cristiano Ronaldo in the same transfer window. It was almost an achievement to miss out on both somehow.
I was personally in the camp of not wanting Cristiano Ronaldo anywhere near the club, for reasons which I’m probably legally not able to go into any detail about, but ultimately, as the day came where it appeared to be inevitable that he would join City, I had sadly convinced myself that maybe, just maybe, on a pure footballing level, it might not be the worst decision in the world. After all, he is a goalscorer. He does put the ball in the back of the net; something we’re desperately missing.
When Manchester United completely and utterly GAZUMPED City by taking Ronaldo out from under their rivals’ feet, they were overjoyed. The Instagram post announcing his return to the club broke records. It was, in true United fashion, a roaring commercial success. It was a romantic story, to see an ex-player return in the twilight of his career for both the love of the game and also an all-time Premier League high wage of £600,000 per week.
The reality of the situation, as has since been proven, is that this signing was yet another symptom of the complete and utter shambles that Manchester United have become post-Sir Alex Ferguson – and it is a thing of beauty.
IMAGO / PA Images
IMAGO / PA Images
IMAGO / PA Images
IMAGO / PA Images
It’s easy to say that Guardiola has had nearly six years in charge to put his stamp on the team at this point, and the squad is made up almost entirely of players who were signed by the man himself, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the day Pep leaves, a manager will be appointed who is best suited to manage the current squad.
A look at the inconsistency of appointments at United, from David Moyes to Louis van Gaal to Jose Mourinho to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now to Ralf Rangnick, tells you that what City have in regards to footballing infrastructure is not to be taken for granted.
It’s amazing to look at the gulf in quality between the two teams today and think that it’s only thirteen years since those infamous words, when Ferguson was asked if United would ever be derby day underdogs, “Not in my lifetime”.
Of course, it has happened in his lifetime.
Even just the year after he left the club, Manchester United were torn apart not once but twice by Pellegrini’s side, as Moyes took a 7-1 aggregate battering in a season where United ultimately finished 7th in the league. Manchester United are yet to register a league finish higher than City since Ferguson’s retirement, with the average points difference between the two being 15 points.
What’s the point of this article? I don’t even know. I just felt like basking in the fact that we’re significantly better than Manchester United right now.
They’ve been in utter chaos since that red-nosed Scotsman decided that he could only prop up the Glazers for so long, complicit in their destruction of the club’s finances which he will always know was ultimately his own fault for having a paddy about a horse. It’s fitting that the most odious football manager in recent history, rivalled only possibly by Jose Mourinho, is almost entirely responsible for the long and painful downfall of the empire which he created.
Whilst City have put in place football men, who know the game and have CVs which back this up, Manchester United have hired investment bankers and commercial experts, and on the commercial side there’s no denying that they’re a juggernaut which cannot be rivalled. Though it’s this commercial thinking which contributes to signing Cristiano Ronaldo when he just simply isn’t what the football club genuinely needs.
City are building for the here and now, as well as for the future, whilst United are trying desperately to reclaim their past.
The likes of Solskjaer refusing to park in Ferguson’s parking spot at Carrington, become a “jobs for the boys” club where the likes of Carrick and Fletcher are given roles which are well above their level of experience, Evra and Ferdinand sending Ronaldo frantic voice notes and WhatsApp messages as he flies over to Manchester from Portugal to try and convince him to come back to United, as if he would need any further encouragement than the half a million a week they’re offering him.
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You can follow Joe on Twitter here: @joebutters
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