Why Cristiano Ronaldo is Worth It

Charlie Klein and Puneet Singh
Opinion


Yes, I did just say that Cristiano Ronaldo is worth the 80 million sterling Real Madrid paid Manchester United in order to have the rights to sign him to a contract. Surely you are screaming in protest, no one is worth that sort of money!?! While that is undeniable, one has to remove himself from the context of the real world and view it from a sporting stand point.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not even in his prime yet. Ronny is only 24 years old! CR9 already has 87 career goals for Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United respectively. He is the biggest name in his sport, has won every individual accolade for which he's been eligible, and has won three league titles and one Champions League.

On the subject of his new club's spending

"I always believed that if a club want to have good players, they have to pay and Madrid made a very correct decision, they were very serious. I understand people, it was not a normal thing, I am happy to be the most expensive player in the history of football, it makes me proud, and I will show they were right to pay that figure for me."

When he says he will show they were right, I believe every single word. He has proved that he is the greatest player in the world the past few years at United and whenever he was doubted he proved all the critics wrong. Following his display in the 2006 World Cup Quarterfinal versus England article after article was being published about how Ronaldo was on his way out of United following the ire he drew and yet he had one of his best seasons in a United shirt. He commented many times that all of the booing and criticism he was garnering motivated him even more to succeed.

Following that breakout year Ronaldo was amongst the finalists for the Ballon D'Or, the award given out by FIFA to the best player in the world. The award, in Ronaldo's and my minds, was injustly given to Kaka. Ronaldo openly admitted that he thought he deserved to win the award for his performance that season. Being denied that honour certainly propelled him to the greatest year of his career in the 2007-2008 campaign.

All of the criticism his transfer fee is receiving from the footballing world will only serve to drive Ronaldo to higher heights than we even imagined before for him. No one thought he could score more than 25 in a season and then he scored 42. Having accomplished almost everything by the age of 24, what else could be left to motivate Ronaldo? What else other than being the man who holds the record for the most expensive transfer in football history?

Many people will still continue to hate Cristiano Ronaldo with an unequivocal passion. I understand all of the reasons for which he is disliked, but I honestly could care less. I am 100% loyal to the player who helped bring United back to the dominant club it has always been throughout its history. I hope he lights up La Liga and proves to all of the doubters that he is still the greatest player in the world. Move over Messi, you're no longer the best player in your league.

And if United were to play Real in the Champions League Final, Ronaldo had this to say:

"Alex Ferguson joked with me, he said he would like to meet me in the final here and that he would have Evra marking me. Madrid are my club now, I have good relations with Manchester United, I wish the best to Alex Ferguson and it will be nice, I hope."

If United do face you in the final Cristiano, look out.