It can't have been the best preparation. Not for a game that could yet constitute Manchester United's biggest collapse in Alex Ferguson's time at Old Trafford. But just 10 hours after a convivial Ferguson spoke of a "great week's rest" in the south of France at his Friday press conference, that air of relaxation must have turned to rage.

Because it broke again. The never-ending bloody story. The fourth time in four years, ravaging all the media space it can like a returning plague of locusts. Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid. Except this time, pun completely intended, it's for real.

We await Ferguson's apoplectic response. That, after all, was the one thing missing from all of Friday night's reports – any sort of indication Manchester United will finally spare us and let this deal go through. And there is still time for Ferguson to turn around to Ronaldo, hold up his contract and re-assert "you're not f***ing goin' son". He won't enjoy such an affront before what could be his last year in management.

Nevertheless, there are enough signs that this time it's sincere. The fact it wasn't on Marca's front page yesterday for one. Notoriously more a press office for Real than a newspaper, it's understood that in this season's overture the club realised the need for a different approach to allay United. And the paper played along as part of the pursuit. Indeed Ronaldo's godfather was quoted in the Guardian and nowhere else saying "the mistake last year was to speak about Madrid so much."

And, with it unlikely to be going over Ferguson's head, there have been enough murmurs out of Old Trafford since last August to suggest his stay was only going to be for one more year. Only a few weeks ago there was the story Ronaldo was being "kicked out" of England by defenders, then the report he was going to open a 'CR7' shop in Madrid, among other cities, and not Manchester (although that may have to switch to CR9 with Raul). That £75m is also a lot to turn down for a club with United's debt. Glazer-rage may well kick in again in Manchester if the deal goes down.

On a personal level, Ronaldo's "great dream" is understandable. Ian Brown once said Manchester has everything except a beach but in 2003 Ronaldinho didn't agree. It'd be just as hard for a lad from the sun of Madeira to. A lad whose Latin culture is much closer to Spain's, who speaks Spanish fluently and, when not bringing a member of Hollyoaks home, regularly flies to Madrid to conduct his social life.

On a professional level it's incomprehensible though. Real are a mess of a club, in a worse state than Irish public transport. Signings like Ronaldo are the sporting equivalent of the emperor's new clothes. No one wants to point out you can still see the shambles underneath. The real Ronaldo, an infinitely better player then than the current one, couldn't cover the cracks and win Real a Champions League when he went there in 2002. What makes Cristiano think he can?

The ironic aspect is that on the weekend when it looks like he might actually leave the club, Manchester United really need Ronaldo to again illustrate what they're going to miss. With such a depleted squad, it's down to him and a jet-lagged Carlos Tevez to re-ignite United's form against Aston Villa.

The way these things go, had the Ronaldo story not broken again, in this space you would have probably read a piece doubting Dimitar Berbatov's input at Old Trafford and noting the need for Ferguson to sign up Tevez. Because, for all his undeniable talent, Berbatov's absence today mightn't be that much of a loss. One stat proves it. After 29 games last season United had 60 goals. Now it's 49.

To be fair, comparing their own stats doesn't actually reveal much of a contrast between Tevez and Berbatov. Both have a similar goal return – particularly in terms of game-changing goals – from their three years in England. And in the last 10 games, both have been on the ball the same number of times per minute, with the same rate of passing precision at 82 per cent. The difference is where. In movement they simply don't compare. And Tevez's change of direction would appear crucial to United's dynamic attacking. The club undeniably signed Berbatov with a plan but, even allowing for Ferguson's track record, those plans don't always come together.

It's of course Ronaldo's searing acceleration, speed of flick-on and shooting power that give United their most cutting edge, with his own dip in form and more meagre goal return every bit as responsible for their greater bluntness as Berbatov's elongated integration. Though the two are not exclusive.

Yet although he is hugely effective and certain aspects of his ability are genuinely top-class, Ronaldo remains overrated. Despite the common perception, unless he has 10 yards of space to accelerate into, you never actually see him beat a defender for pure technique or guile. Not in the manner Leo Messi, Gianfranco Zola or, for all the comparisons, George Best managed. The best full-backs notoriously know how to nullify him.

In that sense too, he's not the messiah, he's a very narcissistic boy. Illustrated by all the preening and petulance lately. United could be just as well served spending only half the money on Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery or, above all, David Villa. Particularly before Liverpool go for the latter.

As for today, we're likely to see a show of unity. A gritty display of character. Ronaldo's only public utterances lately – despite the moves in the background – have been about winning everything with United this season. Such statements fit the strategy of silence on the move. Possibly more than Real actually fit for Ronaldo on the pitch.

mdelaney@tribune.ie