The inside story of why Cristiano Ronaldo moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in 2008 was a huge shock to the football world. After six successful seasons with the club, Ronaldo announced that he would be moving to Spanish giants, Real Madrid, in a world-record transfer deal worth £80 million. Many fans were devastated by the news, and it left many wondering why one of the world’s best players would leave one of the biggest clubs in the world. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons behind Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United.

Desire to Play for Real Madrid

One of the main reasons for Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United was his desire to play for Real Madrid. Ronaldo had always admired Real Madrid, and he had stated on several occasions that he wanted to play for the club. In 2008, Real Madrid was managed by former Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson’s friend and former assistant coach, Fabio Capello. Capello was keen to bring Ronaldo to Madrid, and Real Madrid was willing to break the world transfer record to make it happen. For Ronaldo, playing for Real Madrid was a dream come true, and he saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Contract Dispute

Another reason for Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United was a contract dispute. Ronaldo had signed a new five-year contract with Manchester United in 2007, but he was unhappy with his salary. Ronaldo believed that he deserved to be paid more than the £120,000-a-week salary he was receiving at the time. Ronaldo had become one of the best players in the world and felt that his salary should reflect that. However, Manchester United was unwilling to increase Ronaldo’s salary, which led to tension between the player and the club.

Personal Reasons

Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United was not only due to football reasons, but also personal reasons. Ronaldo’s father, José Dinis Aveiro, had passed away in September 2005, and the player was still grieving his loss. Ronaldo was also dealing with a number of off-the-field issues, including accusations of rape, which were later dropped due to insufficient evidence. Ronaldo was facing a lot of pressure both on and off the pitch, and he felt that a move to Real Madrid would provide him with a fresh start and a chance to focus on his game.

Ambition to Win the Ballon d’Or

Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United was also driven by his ambition to win the Ballon d’Or. The Ballon d’Or is an annual football award presented by France Football magazine, and it is awarded to the best male footballer in the world. Ronaldo had finished as a runner-up to the award in 2007, losing out to AC Milan midfielder, Kaká. Ronaldo believed that a move to Real Madrid would increase his chances of winning the award, as the Spanish club had a history of producing Ballon d’Or winners.

In conclusion, Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United in 2008 was driven by a number of factors. His desire to play for Real Madrid, a contract dispute with Manchester United, personal reasons, and his ambition to win the Ballon d’Or were all contributing factors. While many Manchester United fans were disappointed by Ronaldo’s departure, it is clear that the move was beneficial for the player, as he went on to have a hugely successful career at Real Madrid and became one of the greatest footballers of all time.