Good  riddance, Ronaldo! That's 80 million quid Fergie can use to build a new exciting line-up at Old Trafford.

We've seen the best of the two-faced sulky Portugeezer, so let's move on. Bring in a midfielder in the mould of Steven Gerrard - if there is another to be found.

Sir Alex is said to be keen on Karim Benzema and Antonio Valencia. Good players, too, so we will have some exciting and interesting new faces at OT come the big kick-off in a few weeks' time.

Franck Ribery is another big name in the frame for United. It will all come out in the wash, but there is no mistaking Real Madrid's intentions to put right the slump of the last few years. They followed up the purchase of Kaka with Ronaldo - and there could yet be more to follow there, too.

Interesting stuff and if United and their oil-rich neighbours Manchester City match the big spenders abroad, it really is going to be a thrilling few weeks ahead as the build-up to the new campaign gets under way after an all-too-brief rest.

With England safely on their way to South Africa, we can concentrate on the club scene again, which both players and fans love to do anyway, and we will soon have the added interest of the new fixture lists to mull over too. Bliss!

Meanwhile, I'll settle for a bit of Twenty20 cricket and the hope that Freddie Flintoff really is on the way back after his injury nightmare.