THE DEMONSTRATION sulk was superfluous. Alex Ferguson must already have appreciated what it would be like to have a disaffected Cristiano Ronaldo on the books before the attacker’s show of petulance when substituted in the match with Manchester City last month. No effort was spared by the Portuguese. The critique of the tactics in the Champions League final in Rome a couple of weeks later would have been treasonable if the transparency of his motives had not been so laughable.

There could be good news in all this for everyone, assuming that Manchester United have been readying themselves for such a moment. Ronaldo was entitled to crave a move to a club so illustrious that it has won the European Cup more often than United and Liverpool combined. Its poor state of repair will allow him to picture himself riding to Real’s rescue. In his mind, at least, Kaka is going to have to settle for being the sidekick.

Self-infatuation, of course, is not necessarily a bad thing in a forward, who needs to believe he will get the better of defences. Without him, United will have to identify fresh audacity. After six years of Ronaldo it feels almost natural that the side should now be called upon to redefine itself. The dismantling and reconstruction of line-ups has been the key to Ferguson’s longevity in the profession.

Means must be available to him. The Glazers might like to reduce the debts they heaped into the accounts, but that is unrealistic. It would be very expensive for the owners if the value of the club dipped as its fortunes in Premier League and Champions League declined. In some sense, there has to be a successor to Ronaldo.

Franck Ribery may fit the bill. Those acquainted with the Frenchman feel that, as with Ronaldo, the leading role on the great Old Trafford stage would bring out the best in him. Despite its excellence as a social model, the Bundesliga does not currently compare in quality with La Liga or the Premier League.

The issue for Ferguson is more complex than recruiting someone to take over Ronaldo’s duties. He will be driven to review the overall circumstances at Old Trafford. Comprehensive defeat by Barcelona had made that a priority in any case. The United manager has, of course, been conscious of the passing of a generation.

Gary Neville could not claim a seat among the substitutes for the Champions League final and Paul Scholes participated for a paltry 15 minutes. Ferguson will have drawn conclusions, too, from his need to bring on the midfielder for Ryan Giggs. At 35, the Welshman may continue to be a marvel for a while yet, but seemingly not at the very pinnacle of the sport.

There might not be a series of transfer moves by the manager even if the Glazers were ready to authorise it. Ferguson already has a large squad and there are figures in it that can do better still.

Wayne Rooney is a perfect example. The forward’s contribution has been substantial already, but someone with his gifts ought by now to have been a potent candidate for the world and European footballer of the year awards already collected by Ronaldo.

United should seek more artistry and rather less industry from a player so willing to serve that he regularly helps out the left-back Patrice Evra. Rooney’s prime duty is to astonish us. He can achieve that if he is told that his prime duty is to create and surprise.

That is an order in which he would rejoice. Drudgery is for lesser performers. England have had that firmly in mind under Fabio Capello, a man who does not indulge any footballer unless he is sure that the licence he grants them will be productive.

International fixtures, of course, are often easier than the games United face, but there is a rightness about the sight of Rooney staying in the thick of the attack when with England.

Speaking of forwards, Ronaldo’s exit ought also to be Dimitar Berbatov’s invitation to come to the fore. The Bulgarian is an elusive character, proud of his laid-back style in one moment and doubtful of his status the next. Like Rooney, he has a latent panache that should be expressed more often when Ronaldo no longer hogs the stage.

Guardian Service