So, the day has finally arrived. The end of an era.
The era we speak of, though, is not Cristiano Ronaldo’s six years at Old Trafford, but rather the often nauseating three year long posturing session which has seen Ronaldo and Real flirt more outrageously than two love-struck and fame hungry reality TV morons.
From Ronaldo all but declaring he would be leaving United in the middle of last summer’s European Championships, then eventually agreeing to stay at Old Trafford, to the peculiar sight of the player interviewing himself on the subject of his future last month – the Ronaldo to Real saga has been protracted, tedious and yet bizarre in equal measure.
Now Sir Alex faces a real dilemma. He’ll need a replacement winger, that much is obvious, but what he’ll also need is a replacement for the 20+ goals a season that just walked out the door.
Sadly, Ronaldo is pretty much irreplaceable – the chances of United unearthing another player who can play down the left, right and through the middle, as well as shoot from distance, cross and head the ball and dispatch lethal set pieces any time soon, are pretty much one in a million.
What they’ll need to do is replace him with two or three players of real quality, and spread the goal scoring and assist-providing burden throughout the side. Fortunately for Sir Alex, they’ve just been handed an £80 million warchest, and it’s not as if they wouldn’t have seen this day coming.
Nonetheless, a winger will now be their priority, and here, with the help of our friends at Championship Manager, are eight young wide-men that could step into Ronaldo’s shoes…
Douglas Costa
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 18
Club: Grêmio FBPA of Brazil
Value: £10 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: Like Ronaldo, Costa is a versatile attacking player who can play through the middle or down either flank. He may not have the pace of the Portuguese, but he’s full of flicks and tricks and loves to take on defenders.
He has a deadly shot and, with a buyout clause of just €21 million, he could present an affordable alternative for United – although Sir Alex would risk encoring the wrath of Brazil legend Carlos Alberto, who has accused clubs like United of ‘raping’ Brazilian football of it’s best young talent.
Miralem Pjanic
Nationality: Bosnian
Age: 19
Club: Olympique Lyonnais of France
Value: £8 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: Lyon’s Miralem Pjanic could also go at least part of the way to filling the void left by Ronaldo’s imminent departure. He’s another versatile player, and much like Ronaldo can play on the left and play on the right, although he is yet to make England look sh*te – but his time will surely come…
Pjanic first broke into the Metz first team aged just 17 and has excellent pace and technique. He may not have a goal record anywhere near as impressive as Ronaldo, but at just 19 he still has plenty of time to develop.
Sebastian Giovinco
Nationality: Italian
Age: 22
Club: Juventus
Value: £10 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: A third option could be Juventus’ Sebastian Giovinco. Aged 22 and only 5ft 4 tall, Giovinco is a talented playmaker with fantastic dribbling skills due to his low centre of gravity. He also has ability from free kicks. He has represented Italy at every youth level from U-16s upwards.
Giovinco is seen by some as the heir to Alessandro Del Pierro’s second striker throne – but the arrival of Brazilian playmaker Diego from Werder Bremen this summer could put paid to that.
Alan Dzagoev
Nationality: Russian
Age: 18
Club: CSKA Moscow of Russia
Value: £7 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: Aged only 18, Dzagoev took Russia by storm as he became a first team regular for CSKA Moscow last season. Dzagoev is technically gifted, quick and a capable goal scorer. He is also dangerous from set pieces. He has played mainly as an attacking midfielder or a second striker, but would also be capable of playing wide due to his pace.
Neymar
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 17
Club: Santos FC of Brazil
Value: £6 million
Position: Forward
Justification: Known as the new Robinho in Brazil, like his Santos predecessor, Neymar has a slim frame and can sometimes be muscled off the ball but with the ball at his feet, he is quick, skilful and has an array of tricks and flicks which can give opposition defenders many sleepless nights. He is expected to move to one of Europe’s big clubs in the near future, although it is reported that Real Madrid has first option on the player.
Ciro
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 20
Club: Sport Club Recife of Brazil
Value: £4.5 million
Position: Forward
Justification: One of the best young forwards in Brazilian football at the moment, Ciro is a natural goal scorer with explosive pace and excellent dribbling skills capable of doing the unexpected. In front of goal he scores with a level of composure rarely seen in strikers his age. He has adapted to senior football well scoring four goals in nine games in his debut season, followed by a goal on his debut Copa Libertadores match against Colo Colo.
Javier Pastore
Nationality:Argentinian
Age: 19
Club: CA Huracán (on loan from CA Talleres Córdoba)
Value: £3 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: An all around attacking midfielder who combines creativity with the physical side of the game. He is a technically gifted player who passes with precision, shoots with accuracy and head the ball well. Some say he is the best young player in Argentina at the moment, and may rival Messi in the years to come as Argentina’s most dynamic player.
Taison
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 21
Club: SC Internacional of Brazil
Value: £3 million
Position: Attacking midfielder
Justification: Internacional’s young forward is very quick and often uses his pace to get behind opposition defences. He is very skilful and comfortable with the ball at his feet. This season he has formed an effective partnership with Nilmar and has played a part in Internacional’s promising start to the season.
