Being on the receiving end of a world record transfer fee does come with its advantages, as Goal.com's Sulmaan Ahmad steps into Sir Alex Ferguson's shoes for the summer.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo's most fearsome critics should be able to recognise that, due his incredibly unique physical and technical attributes, he is irreplaceable. There isn't a single player out there who could slot into the United team seamlessly, as if nothing had changed, and produce the same results. Not one.
That isn't to say that, through a series of signings, United couldn't possibly - and only possibly - go on to become a better team. They've always done it before, and you'd be foolish to bet against them doing it again.
The Glazer family, who own the club, have insisted that the world record £80m offer from Real Madrid was accepted by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, and this was not a money-making operation overseen by them to clear their own debt.
They added that, in order to now re-strengthen the team, Sir Alex would be free to spend on players to ensure United are ready to challenge on all fronts for a fourth successive season.
We already discussed who United, as the near-perfect squad, might buy this summer - but this transfer, for so long written off as an impossibility, puts the champions' summer in an entirely new light.
Re-building, as always, should start from the back. As impressive as Wes Brown and John O'Shea have been in the past two seasons, you wouldn't necessarily be able to bet on them doing it again, with the former still an injury doubt and the latter acting as utility cover all over the park.
Johnson has emerged as arguably the best right-back in the league and is now deservedly the undisputed first choice for his country. With a Portsmouth departure inevitable, Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be leading the way for his signature, but if United were to come calling, the sneaking suspicion is that the 24-year-old wouldn't be able to say no to the champions. Rafael da Silva, though a great prospect, isn't yet ready to nail down a permanent spot in the team and no doubt, United would be a stronger team without their right-back remaining on rotation.
The man many are dubbing 'the replacement'. No pressure, then, as 23-year-old Ecuador international Luis Antonio Valencia looks guaranteed for a move to Manchester. Real Madrid were also in the hunt, but look more likely to pull out, having all but sealed the deal for Ronaldo.
Valencia is settled and adapted to the Prem, with similar potential to Ronaldo, though almost the same age and thus highly unlikely to ever hit the same heights. What he could offer, potentially, is a lot more service from the flank, in the mould of a more orthodox winger.
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Arguably the most sought-after star of the summer, having been linked with Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as United, Franck Ribery is officially the next big thing. Madrid already look to have pulled out of the running, if you believe the latest words coming out of the Bernabeu camp, and will be satisfied with the small matter of the incoming Ronaldo. Barcelona is his preferred destination, but they are likely to be the least interested of the three remaining contenders.
Between United and Chelsea, then - despite Ribery not being keen on the English weather - United and their famous No. 7 shirt hanging vacant in the dressing room most likely hold the edge in sealing his signature. Bayern are still incredibly eager to keep the French star, but are unlikely to be able to convince him of the club's capability to challenge at the highest level next season.
It may sound crazy, but it just might work. He may be approaching 33 and past his best, but you don't lose that goalscoring instinct. Whenever he plays, he scores, and Real Madrid - foolishly, for their part - look likely to let him leave this summer. Ferguson has expressed an interest in the 'new Ruud', Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - also at Madrid - but he may prove too pricey an option, not to mention one who will want to be a guaranteed starter.
Of course, his departure from Old Trafford wasn't the most amicable, but it was Ronaldo with whom he had a bust-up, and a hilarious trade of places could be on the cards if Fergie were to put the past in the past. For Ruud's part, he has always held the club in the highest of regards since leaving.
Ruud offers a significantly cheaper alternative, who is likely to remain fit, providing he's not put under the same strain he was at Madrid to play every single game. A lot like Henrik Larsson in 2007, Ruud is also a temporary option, allowing for the growth of the super-sub, the brand new sensation that is Federico Macheda, as well as Danny Welbeck, who is a favourite of Sir Alex. Both formidable prospects, but neither are likely to be able to live up to the billing of being able to slot into the team next season and guarantee goals. Van the man most definitely can.
Total spending: £78M
The most immediately noticeable omission is that of the club captain, Gary Neville. Despite a quizzical England call-up this month, he looks to be past competing for a starting place in a side of this stature.
If Owen Hargreaves stays fit, he offers an incredible third option in centre-midfield, as well as a more than capable alternative on either wing, though particularly the right. Meanwhile, with two new wingers in town, Ji-sung Park could find himself as a combative option in midfield, an area in which he could arguably better utilise his strongest attributes, rather than out wide.
Nani, tipped by many to leave (including our own Gill Clark) still deserves another chance. His crossing ability remains marvellous and if offered more opportunity to play from his natural right as opposed to the left, he may be able to better showcase that skill to the expectant Old Trafford crowd.
Berbatov, castigated by many as the flop of the season, actually proved a superb supplier of goals and had a better scoring rate than Carlos Tevez (who, to the chagrin of all the fans, has gone too far to come back now).
Without Ronaldo, we can expect Rooney to take centre-stage as he does in every game for England. Berba, who has never been a striker's striker, will be sure to continue creating and scoring in equal measure for at least two more seasons. The thinking man's Emile Heskey. Never worth £30m, but certainly worth a second chance with a pre-season and more structured role within the side behind him.
This, without Ronaldo, may not be a team to produce the same or better results right away, but certainly more than adequate to begin the negotiation of a transitional period. It will also set a solid foundation for youngsters and experienced players alike to prove themselves before, at the end of next season, another set of changes to the squad take place to put them on yet another level to anything we have seen in the history of the Premier League.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo's most fearsome critics should be able to recognise that, due his incredibly unique physical and technical attributes, he is irreplaceable. There isn't a single player out there who could slot into the United team seamlessly, as if nothing had changed, and produce the same results. Not one.
That isn't to say that, through a series of signings, United couldn't possibly - and only possibly - go on to become a better team. They've always done it before, and you'd be foolish to bet against them doing it again.
The Glazer family, who own the club, have insisted that the world record £80m offer from Real Madrid was accepted by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, and this was not a money-making operation overseen by them to clear their own debt.
They added that, in order to now re-strengthen the team, Sir Alex would be free to spend on players to ensure United are ready to challenge on all fronts for a fourth successive season.
We already discussed who United, as the near-perfect squad, might buy this summer - but this transfer, for so long written off as an impossibility, puts the champions' summer in an entirely new light.
Glen Johnson (Portsmouth) £17M
Contenders: Chelsea, L'pool, Man City | Chance: 30%
Re-building, as always, should start from the back. As impressive as Wes Brown and John O'Shea have been in the past two seasons, you wouldn't necessarily be able to bet on them doing it again, with the former still an injury doubt and the latter acting as utility cover all over the park.
Johnson has emerged as arguably the best right-back in the league and is now deservedly the undisputed first choice for his country. With a Portsmouth departure inevitable, Liverpool and Chelsea are said to be leading the way for his signature, but if United were to come calling, the sneaking suspicion is that the 24-year-old wouldn't be able to say no to the champions. Rafael da Silva, though a great prospect, isn't yet ready to nail down a permanent spot in the team and no doubt, United would be a stronger team without their right-back remaining on rotation.
Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic) | £16M
Contenders: Real Madrid - so far | Chance: 90%
The man many are dubbing 'the replacement'. No pressure, then, as 23-year-old Ecuador international Luis Antonio Valencia looks guaranteed for a move to Manchester. Real Madrid were also in the hunt, but look more likely to pull out, having all but sealed the deal for Ronaldo.
Valencia is settled and adapted to the Prem, with similar potential to Ronaldo, though almost the same age and thus highly unlikely to ever hit the same heights. What he could offer, potentially, is a lot more service from the flank, in the mould of a more orthodox winger.
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Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) £40M
Contenders: Barca, Chelsea, R Madrid | Chance: 40%
Arguably the most sought-after star of the summer, having been linked with Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as United, Franck Ribery is officially the next big thing. Madrid already look to have pulled out of the running, if you believe the latest words coming out of the Bernabeu camp, and will be satisfied with the small matter of the incoming Ronaldo. Barcelona is his preferred destination, but they are likely to be the least interested of the three remaining contenders.
Between United and Chelsea, then - despite Ribery not being keen on the English weather - United and their famous No. 7 shirt hanging vacant in the dressing room most likely hold the edge in sealing his signature. Bayern are still incredibly eager to keep the French star, but are unlikely to be able to convince him of the club's capability to challenge at the highest level next season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid) | £5M
Contenders: Tottenham Hotspur | Chance: 5% - at best
It may sound crazy, but it just might work. He may be approaching 33 and past his best, but you don't lose that goalscoring instinct. Whenever he plays, he scores, and Real Madrid - foolishly, for their part - look likely to let him leave this summer. Ferguson has expressed an interest in the 'new Ruud', Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - also at Madrid - but he may prove too pricey an option, not to mention one who will want to be a guaranteed starter.
Of course, his departure from Old Trafford wasn't the most amicable, but it was Ronaldo with whom he had a bust-up, and a hilarious trade of places could be on the cards if Fergie were to put the past in the past. For Ruud's part, he has always held the club in the highest of regards since leaving.
Ruud offers a significantly cheaper alternative, who is likely to remain fit, providing he's not put under the same strain he was at Madrid to play every single game. A lot like Henrik Larsson in 2007, Ruud is also a temporary option, allowing for the growth of the super-sub, the brand new sensation that is Federico Macheda, as well as Danny Welbeck, who is a favourite of Sir Alex. Both formidable prospects, but neither are likely to be able to live up to the billing of being able to slot into the team next season and guarantee goals. Van the man most definitely can.
Total spending: £78M
Foster
Johnson Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Anderson Ribery
Berbatov Rooney
Subs: Van der Sar, Wes Brown, Evans, Hargreaves, Nani, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy.
Squad: Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Welbeck.
Johnson Ferdinand Vidic Evra
Valencia Carrick Anderson Ribery
Berbatov Rooney
Subs: Van der Sar, Wes Brown, Evans, Hargreaves, Nani, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy.
Squad: Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Welbeck.
The most immediately noticeable omission is that of the club captain, Gary Neville. Despite a quizzical England call-up this month, he looks to be past competing for a starting place in a side of this stature.
If Owen Hargreaves stays fit, he offers an incredible third option in centre-midfield, as well as a more than capable alternative on either wing, though particularly the right. Meanwhile, with two new wingers in town, Ji-sung Park could find himself as a combative option in midfield, an area in which he could arguably better utilise his strongest attributes, rather than out wide.
Nani, tipped by many to leave (including our own Gill Clark) still deserves another chance. His crossing ability remains marvellous and if offered more opportunity to play from his natural right as opposed to the left, he may be able to better showcase that skill to the expectant Old Trafford crowd.
Berbatov, castigated by many as the flop of the season, actually proved a superb supplier of goals and had a better scoring rate than Carlos Tevez (who, to the chagrin of all the fans, has gone too far to come back now).
Without Ronaldo, we can expect Rooney to take centre-stage as he does in every game for England. Berba, who has never been a striker's striker, will be sure to continue creating and scoring in equal measure for at least two more seasons. The thinking man's Emile Heskey. Never worth £30m, but certainly worth a second chance with a pre-season and more structured role within the side behind him.
This, without Ronaldo, may not be a team to produce the same or better results right away, but certainly more than adequate to begin the negotiation of a transitional period. It will also set a solid foundation for youngsters and experienced players alike to prove themselves before, at the end of next season, another set of changes to the squad take place to put them on yet another level to anything we have seen in the history of the Premier League.
( Sulmaan Ahmad / Goal )
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