#2 Role in Manchester United’s depleted squad strength after Ronaldo’s departure
It is widely known today that Real Madrid approached Manchester United in the summer of 2008 to purchase Cristiano Ronaldo.
Thus, when Ronaldo’s departure in May 2009 left United without a Ballon D’Or winner, their most important goal-getter as well as their most effective wide player, other managers would have spent big on signing a winger of comparable stature.
Arjen Robben left Real Madrid to join Bayern Munich in the same summer for a rather paltry sum of €25 million. Had Ferguson snapped up the Dutch winger, who had a proven pedigree in the Premier League from his days with Chelsea, United would have had significant cash left in the bank left from Ronaldo’s transfer fee. Instead, Ferguson signed Antonio Valencia, who has never shown world-class levels of consistency for the club.
United have struggled to find a winger of comparable quality ever since, and the blame should fall squarely on Ferguson’s shoulders.
