Antonio Valencia is determined to be his own man and not try to
become Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo mark II.
While Ronaldo is still attracting all the headlines as he starts
the job of proving he was worth the world record £80million fee
Real Madrid paid United for him, Valencia has made a somewhat lower
key arrival at Old Trafford.
The Ecuador star might have cost Sir Alex Ferguson £17million
but that fee is dwarfed by the vast amounts that have been shelled
out this summer by both Real and, rather closer to home, Manchester
City.
Yet, with Ferguson declaring his close-season transfer business
over, it is to Valencia the Red Devils' faithful will look to fill
the enormous gap Ronaldo has left.
It is not a position the South American is entirely comfortable
with and one he is pretty eager to distance himself from.
"I don't make any comparisons between myself and Cristiano," he
said.
"Obviously Cristiano did very well here but, when I had my first
conversations with Manchester United, it was never said I was
coming here as a replacement for him.
"What I want is to make sure I do my own job and concentrate on
the things I do well.
"That is the main thing for me because I have a real desire to
be a success here."
History suggests Valencia will be compared to Ronaldo until such
point as he begins to carve out his own niche in United
history.
Earning a Premier League title in his first season would be a
start, particularly as it would be a fourth on the trot for United,
a feat never previously achieved in English football history.
Certainly the form Valencia showed at the back end of last
season suggests he can make a major impact, with none of the
Portugal superstar's histrionics either.
Mind you, that form came about partly as a consequence of
Ferguson's interest in him.
"When a club that big shows an interest in you, it motivates you
to really work hard," he said.
"That is what I did and I will continue to do so."
At a time when United are being snubbed in favour of life in
Madrid, it is telling Valencia opted to stay in England rather than
try his hand at the Bernabeu as initial speculation suggested.
However, despite his Latin background, Valencia insists he has
no aching desire to make it in Spain like Ronaldo. And life in the
damp north-west suits him just fine.
"I love it here," he said.
"I love life in England and I love the football.
"When I was a kid I always dreamed of playing in a league that
was this good. I am delighted to have the chance and so far the
Premier League has been great for me."