Stand by for the Manchester United star to once more start
polishing his ego, fluttering his eyelashes and wooing would-be
suitors.
His admirers have not changed. Real Madrid continue to be
attracted by the prospect of securing a player who has become World
and European Footballer of the Year since they last tried to sign
him.
United are fooling themselves if they think that Real's pursuit
of the Portuguese winger ended when Sir Alex Ferguson chased them
away last summer.
The Spanish giants will be back in the close season with a
renewed passion and an £100million package to try to entice club
and player.
But the seduction process has already begun. The Real key figure
has changed but the aim remains the same. Former president Ramon
Calderon has left centre stage, ousted in a vote-rigging scandal
during club elections last year..
The contest to replace him is already under way with
Florentina Perez ready to stand for office, three years after
leaving his Bernabeu seat of power. Perez wants to bring the
glamour and Galacticos back to the Spanish capital and Ronaldo's
name is the top one on his election ticket.
So, too, is the Brazilian superstar Kaka - another £100m target
- while Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has also been linked but is more
likely to be attracted to his former club Barcelona.
Perez will not present his package to the Real electorate until
all his potential signings are in place. But he is convinced he
will see off any rival candidates and win the keys to the
boardroom.
Steven Gerrard was to be his third star capture but the
Liverpool skipper has kicked that idea into the long grass by
pledging the rest of his career to the Anfield club.
Ronaldo's attempts at a similar show of loyalty have been less
convincing. He contends he is happy at United but, of the future,
adds: "Only God knows about that."
There are echoes in that remark of those he made a year ago when
his commitment to the United cause gradually wavered to the point
where he admitted he wanted to join Real.
Spanish sources have been insisting for several months that a
deal has been struck between Madrid, United, Ronaldo and his agent
Jorge Mendes, a claim that has been vehemently denied at Old
Trafford.
But ex-president Calderon recently told a Spanish radio station
that his legacy to the club was to have clinched Ronaldo's arrival
this summer. And the winger's international team-mate and Real
defender Pepe believes he is on his way to Spain.
Pepe said: "Cristiano wants to play in the Santiago Bernabeu. I
would love him to join Madrid. He has already said that he wants to
come and I hope that next season he is with us."
Claims that Ronaldo is not receiving sufficient protection from
Premier League referees are being interpreted in Spain as a further
sign that he will leave United in the summer.
A new wave of media frenzy broke out in the Spanish capital this
week when it was revealed that he intends to open a branch of his
chain of fashion stores in Madrid. There are also claims he has
plans to open shops in Paris, Milan, Madrid, London, Prague,
Berlin, Tokyo and Los Angeles but, significantly, not in
Manchester.
A Spanish source told Sport of the World: "There is a cleverly
conceived plan in place for Cristiano to join Real.
"The reports that he is unhappy with the treatment he gets in
England is part of it and will be used as a lever for him to get
his dream move to Madrid.
"Of course, it will have to be achieved with United's approval
but part of the strategy is to keep chipping away at their
resistance until they give in."
Sir Alex Ferguson will fight tooth and nail to keep his star
player from the clutches of a club he has come to despise for their
underhand tactics.
And United have been drawing up a new deal which could earn him
up to £200,000-a-week as a reward for his status as the world's
best player.
That will provide the ultimate test of Ronaldo's fidelity. Any
hesitation on his part will begin a re-run of the saga which
stretched through last summer.
For there to be a different ending he will need to utter the
words which so far he has failed to deliver: "I want to leave
Manchester United."
If he does the curtain will fall. And it will be exit, stage
left, Cristiano Ronaldo.
