The real reason Ronaldo left United...

[Paul Marin]

It is suggested that the player left because of the lack of off-field commercial opportunities available due to manu-r club policy. If this is true (and it seems plausible), I think Real Madrid is the perfect (and possibly the only) destination for Ronaldo. The article states that the player could accumulate more than £175m by the time he is Beckham's age (34). It also states:

Simon Chadwick, professor of sport business strategy and marketing at ****Coventry University, said: "United have a greater desire for on-field performance, driven by Ferguson. From the people I speak to at Real regularly, there is a much greater sense that Madrid is an entertainment brand rather than a football club."

Talk about a match made in heaven. You can read the full article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...nited-football

If RM get Villa (there are rumblings that the negotiations have collapsed) then La Liga will be a "must see" league next year. RM's new coach will bring a new flair to the club that we haven't seen in years (if he does what he did at Villareal with far less talent at his disposal). It will be interesting to see what slur arslick does with his £80m windfall (Villa to United?). We will see.

[Gamma]

huh? who was more commercially viable than beckham?

[Paul Marin]

No one is *currently* more commercially viable than Becks! But Ronaldo may become more commercially viable with time.

My impression of him is that he is far more egotistic than Beckham and that may actually play in his favour with Asian markets where he can flaunt is pretty boy image.

I bet if him come out with a cologne, Jangle and Lazie will buy it...pretty boy dem...

[Gamma]

dem woulda drink ih!!

[Gamma]

by "was" i meant at man u....i was challenging the theory that commercial endorsments was the hindrance.

listen, beckham has learned to be media savvy.....it is hard to imagine someone with no ego, making such a klilling by selling himself as a brand...

[Paul Marin]

by "was" i meant at man u....i was challenging the theory that commercial endorsments was the hindrance.

....it is hard to imagine someone with no ego, making such a klilling by selling himself as a brand...

Gamma, if you go back in history, I think that you'll find that Becks didn't become a "brand" until Posh Spice got involved. I think that was the turning point in terms of the making of "brand Beckham". I speculate, but I would bet a smalls that she was more influential in building the brand than Becks himself. Ronaldo however, doesn't need external influence...that's why I don't think Becks has the same kind of ego as Ronaldo. Still, you are right, I can't imagine Becks being ego-less either, but I see Ronaldo as more self oriented...and it shows on the field.

[Karl]

Gamma, if you go back in history, I think that you'll find that Becks didn't become a "brand" until Posh Spice got involved. I think that was the turning point in terms of the making of "brand Beckham". I speculate, but I would bet a smalls that she was more influential in building the brand than Becks himself. Ronaldo however, doesn't need external influence...that's why I don't think Becks has the same kind of ego as Ronaldo. Still, you are right, I can't imagine Becks being ego-less either, but I see Ronaldo as more self oriented...and it shows on the field.

Posh the good woman behind the man?

[OJ]

well becks had the commercial success so not sure I agree with the writer

[OJ]

sorry did not see before I posted.. but my point exactly..

[T.K.]

The real reason Ronaldo left United was to give the rest of you false hopes for next season. - T.K.