So Cristiano Ronaldo has told the Brazilian press that he wants to leave Manchester United and would happily move to Real Madrid if the club meet United's asking price. Prepare for holy war if these quotes are correct.

Newly crowned European champions United have been planning on building their side around Ronaldo for the next decade and only a few weeks after their greatest triumph in ten years he is already planning on breaking his contract and jumping ship for the sun and sangria life in Spain. Over Sir Alex Ferguson's proverbial dead body I should imagine!

One aspect of karma is that Manchester United now will find out what it feels like to have a big fish move into your pond and use a campaign of indirect pressure through leaked announcements to the press to turn a player's head. United have used these tactics to their advantage for years but now the show is on the other foot I wouldn't be surprised to see some bleating about FIFA and UEFA regulations being trotted out. How the tables have turned.

From Ronaldo's point of view I can see why he may want to make the move now. Manchester United are a massive club and he has proven over the past couple of years that he is truly a world class talent, winning two back to back English Premier League trophies and the European Cup this season. 42 goals in one season for a player not recognised as a direct striker is an unbelievable return and I can understand Ronaldo thinking that he has nothing left to prove in the English game.

Loyalty doesn't exist anymore and clubs only complain about it when they are the ones losing mercenary players, not when they are hoovering up the best talent from sides regarded as being below them in the pecking order. Real Madrid are truly the world's premier club side in terms of tradition, success and popular standing, Manchester United come close but not close enough when it ultimately comes down to it. In recent years, Madrid signed Zidane, Figo, Beckham and Ronaldo (the Brazilian one!). United signed Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, a young Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. The difference is seemingly small but telling.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants a new challenge at the only club in world football bigger than his current club, who can argue with his logic or his desire to make the most of his talents during what is ultimately a short career? Not me and it's for these reasons that I fully believe we'll see a new world record transfer fee paid this summer and Cristiano Ronaldo will line up in Real Madrid's colours come the start of the 2008/2009 La Liga season.