Inevitable

I can now enjoy my summer in peace. Not because my exams are finished, not because my holiday plans are secure - because Cristiano Ronaldo has finally left Manchester United.

The preening Portugese theatrical master has finally confirmed what all but the most ardent of Manchester United fans has refused to beleive. His world record transfer to Real Madrid saves me having to hear, and the British press having to write, speculative nonsense about "Ronnys" future, the like of which has dogged the back pages for the past three years. It seemed obvious that Ronaldo wanted to go. His constant changes of heart and insincere pledges that he would be at Old Trafford for the forseeable future were tempered by his coy flirting with the notion of a big money move. He did not even rule out the possibility of going to Manchester City when the idea was touted perhaps cementing him as the most money hungry traitor in the history of football.

Would Puskas be happy to see such a man pull on the historic, pure white jersey? Regardless of the goals he will score and the shirts he will sell is this really the type of player you can rely on to end Barca's stranglehold on La Liga? In comparison Kaka has been the model proffesional. He stayed loyal to Milan the club, that just as United did for Ronaldo, gave him his chance and put him on the map until it became abundantly clear that they actually wanted him to go to reap the financal rewards. He made no fawning tributes to Real Madrid and had not been courting them with "come and get me pleas" (what a brilliant cliche) in tabloids throughout Europe. He said staunchly that he was happy to stay even up until the day that Milan asked him to leave.

Although Ronaldo may bring some much needed silverware to Madrid will they really be able to beleive him when he says he wants to see out the rest of his career in the the Capital? Either way the new age of Galacticos has well and truly begun.