One thing is for sure at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson – they will grow stronger even if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves them after Euro 2008.

Ronaldo is a special talent. He is cocky and arrogant in his play but not in his attitude, and I’m sure Fergie had a hand in helping him to be rather humble when talking to the press.

It is this demeanour that makes the possible loss of Ronaldo all the more difficult to swallow. He seems like a good sort. If you add up the pros and cons, it would make sense for the young superstar to stay put with his current team-mates and mentor.

It was Ferguson who spotted his undoubted talent and nurtured it to produce what we witness today. It may be the case that Ronaldo perceives that he owes no one at Old Trafford any favours. Yet, in recent weeks, he has not helped by making no comment, thus increasing the whirlwind of media activity around him. We really don’t know what is going on but surely this whole matter could possibly have been dealt with in a far quieter manner. Or are we asking too much from the network of media and press?

There are very few football players on this planet who would swap United for another club, thinking that they were walking or running towards something with a greener and lusher landscape. Ronaldo has never hidden his desire to play in La Liga. We are talking about the two biggest clubs on planet football, fighting for the services of arguably the best player in the world.

There are bound to be ructions. The relationship between Real Madrid and United has been damaged, perhaps irreparably. United have lost or sold many great players over the years and, ultimately, it has not been to the detriment of the club.

I think Real Madrid need Ronaldo more than United. Now, that could be the deciding factor. Let’s not dismiss what Ronaldo achieved last season. It was quite simply breathtaking. Would the Premier League title and the European Cup have ended up at Old Trafford if Ronaldo had not been there? Well, deduct his 40 goals from United’s season and there is your answer.

He would take to Madrid exactly that potential to do what he did last year. Not much separates the top European clubs at the minute – Ronaldo could be the difference between Madrid retaining their La Liga title and winning the Champions League.

Ferguson knows it, Madrid know it. So the answer to whether United would be less dominant without him is yes. However – and Ferguson is a past master of doing this – United would buy players or a player capable of switching United into a different type of outfit.

Who would he get to replace Ronaldo? We do not know. There is a very talented squad at Old Trafford. Let’s not forget that. But when we are talking about Ronaldo, and this possible move, it would be very interesting to see the outcome if he did go to Real and both sides met in the Champions League next year.