When Cristiano Ronaldo abandoned Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009, it became apparently clear to the most adamant doubters that every footballer dream of playing for the Spanish outfits.

There’s an urban legend which asserts that a player will only join another club if Real Madrid is not interested in him. The moment Madrid begins to sniff about, that player will do everything in his power to push for a "dream” transfer.

This myth has sadly been supported by factual events over the years. Even the most prosperous club in recent history – Barcelona – came face to face with Madrid’s brutal transfer policy when they stole Luis Figo right under their nose in 2002.

However, as fate would have it, what goes round comes round. As we speak now, Madrid is fighting tooth and nail to thwart Manchester United from snatching one of its most important players, Sergio Ramos.

Ramos’ evident yearning to join Manchester United suddenly bursts the myth; not all players want to be part a "Galactico”.

It all started at the end of last season, when Madrid romantically winked at United’s player of the season, David De Gea.

De Gea, with only one year left on his contract was, and is still, expected to leave Manchester united for Madrid, and follow in the footsteps of Ronaldo, Gabriel Heinze, David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who broke a million hearts by trading red for white.

But under Luis Van Gaal (LVG), United has refused to bow to the weight of Madrid. Instead of negotiating for a transfer fee for De Gea, like was the norm in previous eras, LVG is seeking to unnerve Madrid by showing intense interest in a swap deal.

He knows that losing Ramos would be a terrible abrasion to Madrid – and United fans wouldn’t be too gloomy anyway, if they got Ramos and lost De Gea.

Madrid is ranked as the richest club, valued at US$3.4 billion, while Manchester United is third richest with a value of US$3.1 billion. Therefore to LVG, it is not just about the money.

These are two powerhouses are combating for glory and honor. To him, if Madrid continues to snatch United’s best talents without a fight, then Madrid is simply the better club. Yet that is unfathomable.

When Angel di María moved from Madrid to Manchester, it opened up a whole new dimension in this power struggle.

It meant that for the first time in history, United could lure the best talent from Madrid, but more importantly, it proved which of the two clubs is the most supported or followed club in the world in the world.

Following their transfers to Manchester United, Google searches for Di Maria and Falcao increased by twelve times and ten times respectively; while Daley Blind’s move from Ajax to United saw his Twitter following increased by 72 percent, according to The Guardian.

Therefore, only United has both the financial muscle and the fan lure to do precisely to Madrid what it does to other clubs – and under the control of a charismatic LVG, United’s coldblooded-ness in football politics has been reawakened.

This is all sand in the mouth for doomsayers who predicted the total collapse of Old Trafford when Sir Alex Fergusson called an end to his glittering career after 27 years.

mugishaivan@yahoo.com