MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo sowed the seeds of his proposed world record transfer to Real Madrid more than 18 months ago, but it took a lengthy campaign by the Portugal winger and his Spanish suitors to finally persuade Manchester United to sell their prize asset.
United agreed to let Ronaldo join Real for 80 million pounds on Thursday after admitting defeat in the fight to keep the star at Old Trafford.
The first shots were fired way back in 2006 when United rebuffed an offer from Real. But, although Real lost that battle, they had no intention of losing the whole war.
Like a teenager chasing their first love, they continued to whisper sweet nothings in Ronaldo's ear and inevitably his head was eventually turned by Real's promises of a better life together.
By 2008, Ronaldo was making little effort to hide his desire to move to the Bernabeu. Even winning the Premier League and Champions League couldn't cement the English club in Ronaldo's heart.
He was determined to join Real and spent much of the close-season last year desperately trying to enginner the move.
However, Ronaldo hadn't counted on Sir Alex Ferguson's bloody-minded refusal to bow to his demands. Ferguson has never been one to turn his back on a fight and he reported Real to FIFA for an illegal approach before flying to Lisbon to talk his player into staying at Old Trafford.
Recultantly, Ronaldo conceded that Ferguson wouldn't buckle and agreed to stay. But crucially he made it clear to the Scot that he would almost certainly want to leave sooner rather than later.
That was all too obvious this season as Ronaldo, such an unstoppable force a year earlier, spent much of the campaign performing at no more than 50 percent of his ability.
A player of such talent will always be able to conjure moments of magic even when below his best and 18 league goals helped United retain the Premier League, while also reaching the Champions League final.
But Ronaldo's commitment to United seemed to be fading by the week.
Scowling as he trudged off the pitch, Ronaldo had made it clear what he thought of Ferguson's decision to haul him off during United's victory over Manchester City by offering a glare at the Scot before angrily throwing a bit of kit to the floor.
Perhaps the final straw for Ferguson was Ronaldo's criticism of his tactics after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona. If so the Portguese had finally got his way.
It is a fittingly spectacular way to end Ronaldo's dazzling six years at Old Trafford.
Born on the island of Madeira, Ronaldo began his career with FC Andorinha but Ferguson first set eyes on the teenager when United were invited to play Sporting Lisbon in a friendly to inaugurate their new stadium in August 2003.
Sporting won 3-0 and the United players were so impressed by the Portuguese teenager they implored Ferguson to sign him. Within a week, he had done so, for 12.24 million pounds.
"On the plane back home from the game they urged me to sign him - that's how highly they rated him," Ferguson said. He was one of the most exciting young players I had ever seen."
After a first season in English football, marred by over-elaboration and a penchant for diving, Ronaldo came of age in the 2004 FA Cup final, when United beat Millwall 3-0 in Cardiff.
Just as Ronaldo seemed settled in England, a storm whipped up around his role in Wayne Rooney's red card in a 2006 World Cup tie against Portugal.
It was Rooney who eased the way for Ronaldo to stay by insisting he held no grudge and Ronaldo responded with 23 goals to help United win the Premier League.
A year he was winning more awards as 42 goals fired United to the Premier League and Champions League double.
In December he picked up the Ballon d'Or and in January added the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year accolade to his personal haul, but his thirst for a new challenge proved insatiable.
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo sowed the seeds of his proposed world record transfer to Real Madrid more than 18 months ago, but it took a lengthy campaign by the Portugal winger and his Spanish suitors to finally persuade Manchester United to sell their prize asset.
United agreed to let Ronaldo join Real for 80 million pounds on Thursday after admitting defeat in the fight to keep the star at Old Trafford.
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