After trading in the “world’s best player” and then signing an over-the-hill striker whose panache has been eroded by a stint at Newcastle and long term injuries, is Alex Ferguson running out of options already? Maybe Ferguson is not desperate but rather, the 32 page glossy brochure depicting Owen as a charismatic, cool, good-looking, articulate, clean, fresh, fit and healthy player have worked its wonders on him.

We will never know but from a financial perspective, this roll of the dice by Alex Ferguson presents mutual benefits and little risks. Manchester United secured Michael Owen’s service on a free transfer and will pay him a low basic salary of about £20,000 a week, with massive performance-related bonuses which could take him close to £110,000 a week. Compared to previous costly errors in the transfer market, this is a shrewd investment by a long mile.

For the player, he gets a taste of Champions League football (instead of fighting relegation battles with Hull and Stoke) and a chance to add Premier League titles to his career highlights. The top-notch training facilities, medical team and lower expectations from Manchester United fans will also provide a conducive environment to resurrect his flagging career, just in time for the World Cup next year.

David Beckham has shown that money is secondary, provided he can fulfill his dreams of playing for a prestigious European club and representing England in the World Cup again. He willingly accepted pay cuts in AC Milan and virtually paid out of pocket to settle terms with LA Galaxy. Fabio Capello was rightfully impressed with his determination and there is no reason why he should not give Owen a fair chance if the latter rediscovers his lethal scoring instincts.

Currently, shirt sales attributed to Michael Owen are stagnant, which means that Manchester United fans have yet to warm up to this former stalwart of arch rival, Liverpool. It will take several match-winning performances for Michael Owen to prove his mettle, win over the skepticism of the fans and vindicate Alex Ferguson’s judgment.

However, even if the club has to contend with a non-performing Owen, the financial losses can be written off easily. Of paramount concern is the dearth of quality reinforcements which could hinder their title campaign next season. With Manchester United’s massive debts, not winning trophies and being forsaken by football fans is a recipe for financial disaster.

In Europe, challenging the likes of Barcelona which handily defeated them in the Champions League and the awe-inspiring Galaticos II of Real Madrid is becoming an uphill battle. On the domestic front, Liverpool and Chelsea breathed down Manchester United’s neck in the closing stages and if not for their inconsistencies which proved insurmountable, the Premier League race could have a different outcome.

Indeed, Manchester United should be beefing up or at least retaining its core assets but they were forced to sell Cristiano Ronaldo, their most reliable source of goals, to Real Madrid. Carlos Tevez is also set for a move to Manchester City or Chelsea, further reducing United’s front line options.

In fairness, Ronaldo has been clamoring for an exit for some time and Alex Ferguson has done his best to extract much value from the Portuguese. Keeping him for another season will only result in a disgruntled player with diminishing returns on the pitch and lower market value as well as disruption to team spirit.

Unlike Arsene Wenger who confessed that his transfer budget is not as generous as reported and Liverpool’s financial quagmire as highlighted by KPMG, Manchester United are flush with cash (from Ronaldo’s sale) and they still maintain a winning touch as domestic champions and consistently deliver in Europe, yet world class talents are reluctant to bite the bait.

Karim Benzema, one of the fans’ favorites, was clear about his career path and never wavered from his ambition to join Real Madrid. As for Franck Ribery, he is understood to show a firm interest in playing for Liverpool. David Villa will only contemplate the overtures of Barcelona or Real Madrid, rather than the gloomy weather in Manchester.

Manchester United’s next target is Aguero but he lacks pace, height and clinical finishing, yet is outrageously expensive. The deal will also require Berbatov to move in the opposite direction, and is a poor exchange even if the Bulgarian’s laziness and inability to convert crucial penalties earned the ire of United’s fans. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a key member of the current Dutch side, is unappreciated in Real Madrid but Manchester United have yet to table an attractive bid.

But before we jump to the conclusion that Manchester United board has not tried hard enough or are using the money to pay off financial obligations, we have to understand that Spanish clubs traditionally enjoy an upper hand in the transfer market. Florentino Perez’s re-appointment as Real Madrid’s President further strengthened their appeal.

Manchester United always come a distant second when competing on equal terms for established Latin players since the days of Gabriel Batistuta, Marcelo Salas, Patrick Kluivert, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. The arrival of Carlos Tevez is more of a fluke due to the intricacies of his contract, West Ham’s troubles, and the absence of major clubs’ interest.

Under such circumstances, perhaps the fans should be thankful for the arrival of Antonio Valencia (a virtual unknown poorly rated), Michael Owen, and another French youth winger Gabriel Obertan who offers lot of promise, but don’t expect any of the three to make major contributions immediately.

We can draw parallels for this dry period of talents to the 2006/07 season – when United sold Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid and only signed Michael Carrick from Tottenham Hotspur. Fortunately, Carrick managed to bolster a weakened midfield and has since matured into a player capable of holding the fort for the Red Devils.

Of the three recent signings, I place greater faith in Michael Owen to measure up to expectations. Home grown finishers in the Premier League don’t come any better than Michael Owen. In May 1997, at the tender age of 17, he burst onto the scene and began an illustrious career of breaking goal scoring records.

His electrifying pace, poacher’s instinct and goody two-shoes nature made him a hot football property, exactly the type of player who will sit well with Alex Ferguson. England also placed high hopes on Owen that they can finally terrorize opponents into submission.

At Liverpool, Michael Owen forged a fearsome partnership with Robbie Fowler and in fact, hastened the departure of the moniker of God. Owen became Liverpool’s top scorer every season since 1998 until he left the club and had scored more than 150 goals. Despite England’s early exit from the World Cup, Owen was named the 1998 BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In 2001, Michael Owen’s late brace in the FA Cup final against Arsenal took the trophy to Anfield and he completed a treble of honors by winning the UEFA Cup Final against Deportivo Alaves. At the end of the year, Owen became the first English player in twenty years to win the European Footballer of the Year award.

Unfortunately, Michael Owen’s bout of injury in 2003-2004 resulted in a bleak season for Liverpool. Gerard Houllier became the first victim, followed by Owen whose sale to Real Madrid for £8 million was approved by incoming manager Rafael Benitez. Despite being confined to the bench, Owen still ended the La Liga season with thirteen goals, and achieved the highest ratio of goals scored to number of minutes played.

The downfall started when Newcastle United held out an olive branch to Michael Owen who wanted more match time to be in top form for World Cup 2006. The deal was sealed but Owen ended up spending more time in the treatment room than playing for the Magpies. It is fair to say that his injury stems from mismanagement and bad luck.

The broken metatarsal in 2005, tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in a short-lived World Cup 2006 that kept him out for a year and the hernia operation in 2007 effectively destroyed the aura surrounding Michael Owen. In all, he suffered injury or illnesses 16 times during his time at Newcastle and made only 58 Premier League starts.

At Manchester United, I believe Michael Owen will receive better care to shake off his rustiness and get back to full fitness. Under the watchful eyes of Alex Ferguson, the signs from pre-season training are good that the player still retain his scoring touch, is working hard and enjoying his time at Old Trafford. After all, Owen has many friends in the United squad, thus integrating into the team is not a problem.

I believe Alex Ferguson yearns for the return of a conventional striker. Last season, Manchester United have incredible firepower in Ronaldo, Berbatov, Tevez and Rooney, but they fail to outscore their closest competitors. Instead, United’s success was largely based on sound defending as they won games by the odd goal and embarked on a record breaking run of not conceding goal for 1212 minutes. Ferguson will certainly want the defensive discipline to continue but having another clinical striker to put away chances increases their title hopes.

But from so many strikers, why did Alex Ferguson gamble on an injured player? For one thing, he appreciates the fact that rewards, if materialized, greatly outweigh the risks. A case in point is the purchase of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The deal was nearly axed when the Dutchman ruptured his cruciate knee ligaments during a training session. Nevertheless, Manchester United persevered and completed the transfer in 2001 by paying PSV an additional £500,000 for the player’s services.

It turned out to be an excellent transaction as van Nistelrooy repaid the faith and money during his five years stint with 150 goals in 220 appearances as well as becoming the club’s all-time European scoring record with 38 goals.

While Michael Owen may have lost the blistering pace in his youth, he is still among the most clinical strikers in England. If Owen can thrive during Houllier’s era which saw a Liverpool side engaging in a patient game of short passing and counter attack, then he should love the fluid, entertaining play by the Red Devils.

Owen will certainly benefit from the dominant possession and chances created by Manchester United compared to the dis-spirited and incompetent players at Newcastle. Sometimes, the quality of service is so good, a striker need only be there physically to stick the ball into the net.

Manchester United’s attacking style also reduces the need to depend on pace since most opponents are pinned back and have to defend in numbers. Thus, timing and positioning are more crucial factors to capitalize on crosses from the flanks as well as link up play from midfield. Eric Cantona, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were among the influential strikers during Ferguson’s reign but each did not make their mark based on speed.

In terms of commercial success, Michael Owen isn’t a glamor signing like David Beckham who sells merchandise by the truckloads. Fortunately, Alex Ferguson’s transfers stand in contrast to Real Madrid’s vision. He prefers hatchet men to deliver, and the United brand will take care of itself. Thus, he is more than happy to have Real Madrid take David Beckham off his hands, even in the face of huge commercial losses.

Since Michael Owen is not going to start often, his value lies in being a veteran who has played at the highest level and rise often to the occasion. Owen can strengthen the bench for the big games, in the absence of Carlos Tevez.

The Argentine may win hands down in terms of pace and technical skills like passing, dribbling and ball control, but Manchester United have saved themselves £22 million. In addition, Tevez’s impact is not as significant as Cristiano Ronaldo and can be rendered redundant by Rooney.

Owen compensates for his one-dimensional game with a high conversion rate which stands proudly above Tevez, Torres, Berbataov and Rooney. Thus, little separates both players as they are expected to net 10-15 goals a season when coming off the bench.

Michael Owen also serves another purpose of acting as a model to improve the prodigious talents of Danny Wellbeck and Federico Macheda. In recent years, Ferguson has shown a propensity for signing vintage players. Laurent Blanc, Teddy Sheringham and Henrik Larsson were regarded as past their best but their purpose was to impart experience and skills to the youngsters.

Alex Ferguson has certainly come a long way from the impulsive ’90s when he wiped out old guards in one fell stroke and immediately blooding the youth team. However, competition has intensified tremendously and a team of hot-blooded youngsters may be a risky formula for success.

Just look at Arsenal. Beautiful football is dished out by a bunch of youngsters who are not short on skills, stamina and eagerness but their inability to capitalize on chances and hold their ground when the going gets tough is a major stumbling block.

Welbeck and Macheda will eventually step up but not after they have gained consistency and experience. Speaking of experience, some fans may prefer Samuel Eto’o or Thierry Henry. I agree they will be more beneficial for the youngsters but the price will not be cheap either. Since Alex Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of Owen and regards age as an asset rather than liability, this is a good time to pick up a distressed asset for pennies on the dollar.

Overall, Michael Owen makes an ideal replacement for Ruud Van Nistelrooy, an out-and-out striker who put goals away at close quarters. Ferguson can toy with different options by either fielding Berbatov in the hole while pairing Owen and Rooney up front. Or Rooney can play in a withdrawn position, leaving Owen and Berbatov to lead the front line.

But for every transfer success, there are also failures for Alex Ferguson. The United’s medical team cannot always perform miracles. Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were laid out for long spells and could not last the rigors of a full season. Eventually, they moved on.

I cannot say if Owen will be another Louis Saha or Ruud van Nistelrooy but since any player will need a few games to settle down in a new environment, and for someone who is low on confidence and fitness due to a myriad of injuries, it is fair to give Owen a longer time to hit top gear before judging him.

However, assuming Owen rediscovers his form, there are flaws to his game that make Cristiano Ronaldo appear indispensable. Owen may be a natural finisher (with one foot) but he lacks creativity, nor is he capable of holding the ball up on his own or getting past defenders with trickery. He has to feed off other players and his limited game outside the box means you have to build the team around Owen.

Despite these flaws in his game, I am more worried about Owen’s attitude and desire to win. Detractors of Cristiano Ronaldo may denigrate him as a flamboyant peacock and dirty diver, but nobody can deny that he demands an exacting standard of himself and possesses a burning desire to be the best footballer.

Cristiano Ronaldo trains hard – polishing existing skills and experimenting with new tricks to become a more complete player. Alex Ferguson has revealed the secret to the magic which Ronaldo weaves on the pitch and the answer is alarmingly simple: tireless hours of practice.

Does Michael Owen desire to win titles and improve himself? Or does he believe that an old dog cannot learn new tricks? Is he content to warm the bench or just go on the pitch and put in 90 minutes of insipid performance and then collect his wages at the end of the day? If he has this kind of attitude, no football club or manager can help him.

During the final matches of survival for Newcastle, I was disappointed by the Geordies’ lack of heart and character and their nonchalance towards relegation. Great hopes and responsibilities were thrust on Michael Owen but he did not respond in a positive manner. Thus, it remains to be seen if Owen works hard all the way at Manchester United or only impress in the first few matches.

As for Liverpool, they may be indignant but there is hardly any betrayal here. Michael Owen wanted to move back to Anfield on two occasions, giving them first priority and agreeing to take massive pay cuts but to no avail, probably because of injury concerns, transfer fees and more importantly, Benitez’s hesitation.

By the way, Owen is not the first player to ply his trade for both clubs, thus the animosity should not get out of hand. Previously, there were Phil Chisnall and Paul Ince who was appointed Liverpool’s captain. Sir Matt Busby also played for Liverpool before going on to manage Manchester United, making them the first English club to win the European Cup.

Nevertheless, Owen’s arrival at Old Trafford will deepen the rivalry which runs through both clubs from fans to boardroom. Such moves are frowned upon as can seen by Alex Ferguson’s refusal to allow Gabriel Heinze and Carlos Tevez to cross over to the enemy and similarly Steven Gerrard “just would not come.”

Relations between United and Liverpool reached new lows last season with Benitez’s infamous rant about Ferguson. This transfer certainly adds spice to the rivalry and it will be fascinating to see Owen visit Anfield with United in the Premier League on October 24.

Considering Michael Owen’s contributions for Liverpool, the fans should wish him all the best, even if he plays a significant part in a fourth consecutive Premier League title for Manchester United and their record 19th title. I hope the treatment will not be as belligerent as what we saw from the Catalans when Luis Figo switched from Barcelona to Real Madrid.

Will Manchester United get over the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo? There are no shortage of punters backing Owen to be the top Premiership scorer next season and also making the World Cup squad next summer. We shall see, in a few months’ time. Stay tuned for updates.

Last week, Real Madrid shocked the football community with their audacious raids in the transfer market. The arrival of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, both winners of Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of The Year, cost a cool £150 million.

Coupled with two other record fees , Luis Figo (a £37m purchase from Barcelona) and Zinedine Zidane (a £47m deal with Juventus), that is £220m on just four players. To put things in perspective, George Gillett and Tom Hicks paid just under that amount for Liverpool FC in a leveraged buyout.

Obscene money which distorts fair play, UEFA President Michel Platini says, but he ain’t see nothing yet. Rumors are rife that another six players (David Villa, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Maicon, Franck Ribery, Raul Albiol) are on the way and the budget may balloon to more than £262m, easily eclipsing the lavish £217m spree by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea from 2003-2004.

If you developed queasy feelings of deja vu, it is understandable. After all, this is Florentino Perez’s second attempt at creating the Galacticos. Instead of recruiting world-class talents every summer during his first experiment, Perez has fast-tracked his burning ambition to see Madrid’s football recover “their place in the world.”

When Florentino Perez came into power at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2000, Real Madrid had just won the European Cup but not one to settle for mediocrity, he embarked on a breathtaking vision to assemble the best talents the world has ever seen.

This time round, Real Madrid finished nine points behind Barcelona and was eliminated from the Champions League at the first knockout stage for the fifth successive season. The abject failures stood in stark contrast to the fortunes of their arch rival.

Never before has a treble (La Liga, Champions league and Copa del Rey) been achieved in Spanish football, yet Barcelona scaled the pinnacle in Pep Guardiola’s debut managerial season – at Madrid’s expense too after a humiliating 6-2 derby defeat. Real Madrid had no reply to the attacking guile and midfield dominance of Barcelona. Each goal was a stab in the heart and rendered an impressive run of 17 victories in 18 games irrelevant.

What if Barcelona go on to achieve the unprecedented honor of retaining the Champions League title next season? Given the intense political, cultural and football rivalry between both clubs, the echelons of power in this fabled institution cannot stand aside and witness the ultimate glory of Barcelona.

Like any true-blue Real Madrid fan, Florentino Perez is anxious about the decline in the club’s prestige and desires the passion of being a Madridista to return. Soon after his re-election as President of Real Madrid, he set about the familiar task of breaking the bank and recruiting super players to level the playing field. His clarion call for Real Madrid to “do in one year what we would normally do in three,” signals his intention to deliver within a tight schedule.

Florentino Perez has a clear mandate to do the necessary and why not, after all, he is a proven success. You don’t buy a bankrupt construction company, and transform it into a multi-billion conglomerate, ACS, by ignoring project schedules and making empty promises.

Perez is particularly suited to the wheeling and dealing of business and football as he possesses acumen, charisma, political connections, enterprise, and persistence. Unfortunately, these qualities were found to be sorely lacking in his counterpart, Ramon Calderon.

There is little love lost for Ramon Calderon who had been accused of vote buying and skimming money from the vault when players were purchased. He was no slouch in spending money but his signings hardly qualify as the cream of the crop and no Spanish players were purchased.

Calderon’s saving grace was to claim some credit for the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo. He hinted that the dirty work was done during his time: “Last season United decided not to do it because they thought it was too early and instead everyone agreed to do it this season. He [Ronaldo] wanted to come, he said that many times.”

Now, even if Perez took credit for Calderon’s work, there is no denying his ability to make things happen. His mantra being that money is no object and deficits don’t matter. Los Merengues can feel a twisted sense of pride and satisfaction to outbid Russian mogul Abramovich on all his targets, doing what Manchester City sheiks cannot by buying Kaka while they only have Gareth Barry to show for their ambitions next season, and finally Alex Ferguson, manager of one of the richest club (in terms of revenue), being forced to sell his prized asset.

To be sure, money is not the only consideration. Perez conceded that Real Madrid cannot match the financial prowess of Chelsea and Manchester City as they don’t have rich people to put money into the club. Footballers are attracted like moth to candlelight because of Madrid’s rich tradition of European and domestic triumphs as well as Perez’s personal charms.

You can see Perez’s brilliant mind at work with his creative financing and daring projections of future revenue streams for Real Madrid. Last time he wiped out Real Madrid’s debts in one fell stoke by selling off the club’s training ground for £298m to the city council. He has cash left over from clearing debts and use it to finance transfers.

This time, he managed to secure a credit line with Catalan bank, La Caixa. Against the backdrop of mounting bad loans for Spanish banks and limited access to credit for businesses, one has to marvel that Real Madrid has sponsors lining up to facilitate their transfer orgy.

The fact that Real Madrid is too big to fail certainly helps. The corridors of power in Spain will not risk the social and political fallout from pushing Real Madrid into bankruptcy, thus any banks holding the debts of Real Madrid are relatively safe.

Barcelona’s economic director, Xavier Sala-i-Martin, is baffled by the financial logic behind Perez’s grand Galaticos project. “I do not know where the 300m euros that Florentino Perez thinks he has for signings actually comes from. He says he will recoup it by selling replica shirts and so he will have to sell 30 million of them. That is impossible.”

But Perez saw no need to answer such trivial questions. His gamble on expanding revenue streams were successful in the past. According to the club, Madrid’s annual income had doubled in three years from 2000 to 2003. David Beckham’s four-year stay in Spain boosted sales of shirts and memorabilia by 137%.

More importantly, Real Madrid overtook Manchester United by £32.5m as the richest club in the world in terms of revenue in 2008. They are keen to improve on last year’s “meagre” £102m in commercial revenue and £16.8m for reaching the first knock-out stage of the 2007-08 Champions League. In fact, the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo have already sent number crunchers into overdrive. A fresh report predicted an additional £107m a season to Madrid in revenue from the pair.

Real Madrid have also benefited from La Liga’s policy of allowing football clubs to negotiate individual contracts with broadcasters. Clearly, the incentive is for clubs to amass and leverage on world class talents to extract more TV revenue. The club also has the advantage of owning their own stadium and earned £80m in match day revenue in 2007-08.

It is futile to argue with Perez as statistics have bore out the fact that the Galacticos policy is indeed successful in generating commercial benefits and reviving the marketability of Real Madrid brand.

As Mark Twain once remarked that there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics. So there were few critics when Perez defended the Galacticos policy as a model that feeds itself. He considered “Zidane was a cheap signing as his arrival allowed new commercial deals and new arrivals.”

Moreover, the fans have derived huge entertainment by seeing a dream team in action. Football can be intoxicating when it is played beautifully, with fluid passing, silky dribbles, cheeky back-heels, heart-stopping goalmouth actions and extraordinary goals.

There is little wrong in giving football fans what they desire, solid entertainment for 90 minutes and then leaving the stadium with a smile on their faces. The entertainment value is well worth the money. Ask Sepp Blatter.

However, it is debatable if the Galacticos policy is the right way to attain football supremacy. Or is it another “insane” attempt (where insanity is defined as repeating the same procedures and expecting different results)?

Notwithstanding Real Madrid’s irresistible appeal, I doubt if the influx of galacticos has imbued the team with an aura of invincibility and struck fear into their opponents. We all know how the first version of the Galacticos fared. Let’s do a quick review.

Real Madrid purchased four winners of the Ballon d’Or: Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Michael Owen. However, the awards were not achieved in a Madrid shirt. The implication being that these prima donnas peaked before arriving at Santiago Bernabeu or the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts did not materialize.

Initially, the policy did pay off as Real Madrid won two league titles and one Champions League title. Zidane who had already unleashed his talent as Juventus playmaker, gained a higher profile by orchestrating the Madrid midfield and scoring impossible goals. The Brazilian Ronaldo was a goal scoring machine, terrorizing defences and hitting the back of the net for fun, thanks to the effervescent Zidane.

Then there was Figo on the right flank, who could leave any defender stranded with his dribbling skills. Roberto Carlos was blazing up and down the left flank tirelessly and scoring 30 yard screamers regularly. Makelele, arguably the best defensive midfielder, also showcased his defensive ability and his short, simple passes to link up the potent strike force.

With Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in Real Madrid’s pulsating midfield, it was easy to see why Real Madrid created chances effortlessly and scored so many goals. Unfortunately, good times don’t last and cracks started to appear.

When another superstar, David Beckham, arrived (he left Manchester United as Alex Ferguson doesn’t appreciate the media circus), jealousy and selfishness abound. The egos in the dressing room were slighted that this pin-up footballer is now the center of attraction. Yes, Beckham serves up accurate long range boomers and swerving free kicks, but he has little else to offer.

Vicente Del Bosque (coach of Real Madrid at that time) was losing control of the Galacticos of Real Madrid because he cannot satisfy everybody all the time. He has to rest certain players in order to refresh the squad or adjust his strategies as circumstances dictate, while an Englishman played more than he deserves due to TV revenue and sponsorships.

It was a tough act to follow and a recipe for disaster. Players like Zidane and Figo consider it an affront to sit on the bench and disliked being played out of position. But that is what the squad had to do to accommodate David Beckham. To fit in all the Galacticos, the versatile players usually bear the brunt of the changes.

Figo is a right winger while Zidane, playing in the middle, is the soul of the team. With Beckham alternatively given the center or right midfielder role, you can imagine the hostile feelings being bottled by the existing Galacticos when their favorite spots are up for grabs.

Perez was oblivious to the simmering discontent and continued to buy attacking, attractive players who had little defensive talents and that led to a porous backline for Real Madrid. The Galacticos policy saw its greatest irony in 2003 when Real Madrid plumped for David Beckham rather than Ronaldinho because the former is more appealing while the face of buck-toothed Ronaldinho was deemed as a laughing stock and may degrade Real Madrid’s brand.

Well, we all know what an attacking talent Ronaldinho was. He proved his mettle by leading the resurgence of Barcelona to two straight La Liga titles and a Champions League Title as well as humiliating England in the World Cup. David Beckham can sell shirts but an attacking talent he is not. Period.

Unfortunately, the joke on Florentino Perez doesn’t end with the Ronaldinho saga. Sameul Eto’o was a Real Madrid player, but Perez sold him to Mallorca, who then profited by selling Eto’o to Barcelona where he would go on and become the top striker in the world. Just imagine what will happen if Eto’o had joined Raul and Ronaldo in a triumvirate of strikers much like the current Barcelona front line.

The attacking talents which Perez let slip from under his nose because he yearns for established stars, was not the biggest failing of the Galacticos policy though. I will say Perez’s reluctance to pay world-class defensive players high salaries was the foremost reason which eventually lead to the destruction of the team.

When Claude Makelele demanded an improved contract after David Beckham came in and disrupted the wage structure, Perez showed him the door, together with Vicente Del Bosque. The arrival of Beckham and the departure of Makelele to Chelsea marked the downfall of the Galacticos.

After the sacking of Del Bosque, the internal strife in Real Madrid worsen and they could barely function as a footballing unit. Although Real Madrid still had the best attacking players in the world, they lacked solid lacked defensive cover and even if David Beckham did not slag off his defensive duties, he has his limits.

The many frustrations eventually saw Luis Figo left the club to join Inter Milan after he was not given a two years contract by Real Madrid which he wanted. Michael Owen also left in the same season (2004-2005).

Things finally came to a boil and Perez realized that the Galacticos policy was not paying off. After his beloved club sank to an all time low in the 2005-2006 season, exiting in the UEFA Champions League to Arsenal F.C. in the round of 16 without scoring a goal in either leg, he stepped down as the President.

Lessons must surely have been learnt from the failure of the original Galacticos, even if Florentino Perez will only admit his mistake as having walked away from the mess. Does Perez now realize that it is more important to build a balanced team with attack and defense, and not just to sign players because they have mass appeal or that they had won football awards in the past? The best could be behind these players and that is why their former clubs release them.

To be sure, the city of Madrid loves both superstar signings Perez had made. Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo were the souls and inspiration of their former teams. The ‘golden boy’ of AC Milan was the perennial crowd favourite and it seemed that Milan is now on a slippery slope of decline with the sale of Kaka.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the ultimate entertainer at Manchester United and boy, did he play with panache and creativity. Like his predecessor, David Beckham, Ronaldo combined athletic prowess with a bad-boy appeal to create a unique brand in its own right.

In terms of sheer talent and technical ability, both are surely amongst the best players in the world who can change a game in one moment of brilliance. Being technically gifted players, they are expected to thrive in La Liga. Serie A is too stifling and Premier League clubs are often too physical and love their long balls.

However, Real Madrid had to contend with injuries to their prized assets. Two seasons ago, Ronaldo scored an exceptional 42 goals in all competitions – no mean feat for a winger. While nobody expected him to repeat the feat, he had a late surge in form in April and May to end his season on a high. Niggling injuries led to a slight dip in Ronaldo’s form and it is uncertain how the player will recover from his sports hernia.

As for Kaka, he suffered his own bout with injury and had struggled to find consistency on the pitch, although, just like Cristiano Ronaldo, he did finish the campaign strongly. With injuries in mind, Kaka’s age (27 years) does present an added concern, but even in his late twenties, the Brazilian is one of the most skillful players in the sport, especially when running with the ball at his feet.

Ronaldo is stronger and street-wise than Kaka after thriving in the Premier League. Depending upon how Real Madrid manager Manuel Paellegrini aligns them, they could play in very close proximity, with Ronaldo playing high up on the wings or functioning as a fox in the hole while Kaka plays as an attacking midfielder.

The Brazilian national side is not devoid of strikers but Kaka was often deployed behind Robinho, and it worked to superb effect. Real Madrid fans will salivate at how the the Brazilian will pair with Cristiano Ronaldo. But there is the pertinent question of whether Kaka and Ronaldo can work together seamlessly?

Already, Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to share the limelight with Kaka and wants a separate occasion to be unveiled as a Real Madrid player. He also demanded outrageously higher wages to distinguish himself from Kaka. Ronaldo will earn a flat wage of £6.8m a year plus substantial add-ons and image-rights payments.

Kaka’s agent (his father) cannot be described as subtle when it comes to asking for money, so you can expect the wage structure in Real Madrid to be tested like never before, especially when Kaka outperform Ronaldo in the first season.

If both superstars are more interested in pursuing individual glories rather than team success, Manuel Paellegrini will have a very short career as Real Madrid manager. I doubt he will be given a full season to prove himself, especially if Real Madrid are languishing in mid-table by December.

Pep Guardiola was so successful in his first season because he cleared off the deadwood and surrounded himself with players with the right attitude – those who are willing to fight for him and adhere to his work ethics and strategies. More importantly, the unwavering support of the Barcelona board who sides with the manager instead of the players.

Real Madrid have also not bolstered their defensive midfield spots and the lack of another quality goalkeeper to replace Iker Casillas should he get injured are potential trouble spots. Xabi Alonso would be a great addition – because he is disciplined and can run a game from deep. Playing him next to Lassana should be a natural choice for Pellegrini, provided Liverpool are willing to sell.

Right now, Real Madrid have an attacking midfield of Robben, Kaka, and Ronaldo but you will be hard pressed to see any of these players making a tackle.

While Real Madrid adopts a system of being the richest bidder who pluck the blossoming fruit off the mother tree, Barcelona is on a totally different plane as they painstakingly cultivate their own seedlings.

When it comes to building a team, I believe Barcelona win hands down. They won the treble, inspired by Guardiola’s philosophy of attacking possession football and with a largely homegrown squad in which 7 players of the starting 11 were products of their youth system (Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergi Busquets, and Lionel Messi).

If I were to choose between building up players from youth teams or buying the end products, without a doubt, Barcelona’s system is the best and should be the model for all football clubs. I keep my fingers crossed on whether Real Madrid can spend its way to football supremacy.

Much has also been made on the tectonic shift in power to Spanish football. There is no doubt about Spain’s standing as as one of the finest team in international football. In the Champions League, Barcelona demolished former champion, Manchester United, in Rome, which was a further proof of the quality of Spanish football.

For the past few seasons, Premier League teams have proceeded beyond the quarter-finals and ensured a strong English presence in the semi-finals and finals. The Premier League also basked in the glory of being the most watched league among Asian TV viewers.

However, the transfer moves by Perez could severely disrupt the mass appeal of the Premier League. We will know the answer soon if the Champions League will feature another four Premier League clubs or the world’s attention will just revolve around Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In any case, next season will promise lots of fireworks. Stay tuned for more updates.

However, consistency has suffered from the demanding match fixtures. Barcelona stuttered in February and March when they drew with Real Betis and then lost to city rivals Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. More recently, a 2-2 draw to Valencia has whittled their once unassailable 12 point lead to a tentative 4-point gap over closest rival Real Madrid.

While Barcelona stumbled, Real Madrid came back from a goal down in a gritty 4-2 victory over third-placed Sevilla. It has bolstered their confidence and injected new life into the title race. Indeed, the Los Merengues today is a different side from the one which succumbed 2-0 at the Nou Camp in December. That was a deplorable league debut for Juande Ramos as Real Madrid’s manager but they have not looked back since with an awesome run of 17 wins and one draw in 18 La Liga matches.

Considering Chelsea’s neutralization of Barcelona’s threat in the Champions League semi-final, one cannot help but feel wistful that a year of commendable efforts from Pep Guardiola’s Dream Boys may end up in misery when it matters. Even today, the Catalans are struggling to explain their toothless display against Chelsea.

How could they fail to find the net? After all, the much vaunted strike force comprising Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o have scored more goals between them than the entire Chelsea side. At their current rate, Barca could rewrite the record of 107 league goals set by John Toshack’s Real Madrid in 1989-90.

The short and simple truth for Chelsea’s success in stopping the finest front line football has known (where so many others failed) is an ultra-defensive strategy. At times, Barcelona had to wade through three defensive shields in front of hero Petr Cech who showed no signs of vulnerability, like those embarrassing blunders he committed in the Premier League.

The midfield helped out by kicking and haranguing Xavi and Iniesta, barging Messi off the ball, and crowding him out. Cech was pleased with those in front of him and particularly grateful to the magnificent Jose Bosingwa who was playing in the left back position due to Ashley Cole’s absence. The Portuguese effectively shackled Lionel Messi which shows that right-footed players are the perfect foil in dealing with the tricky winger. Messi was also cut down to size by Phillip Lahm in Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona.

It is within Barcelona’s right to decry Chelsea’s negative tactics or a biased referee but the obsession is unhealthy. For all their talents, they should rise above all these whinging and analyze how to overcome this hurdle. The referee may have allowed Chelsea to break up play with aggressive tackles, fouls and time wasting.

To be frank, I prefer scintillating football any day over this kind of ruthlessly effective but boring style. However, let’s not forget that Guus Hiddink’s tactics are legitimate. There is nothing in the books which suggest that Chelsea have to join Barcelona in being the poster boys of football to achieve their objectives.

Barcelona were unable to dictate the pace but a successful team must learn to adapt to different circumstances. When fluidity and artistry are curtailed because your opponent fought for all the balls and left little space and supply for Lionel Messi and his teammates, Pep Guardiola must have alternative tactics ready to deal with such obdurate defenses.

Sometimes, instead of applying suffocating pressure, letting go of possession and luring Chelsea to counter-attack may be a better approach as it allows Barcelona to exploit gaps at the back. Barcelona should also not dwell too much on a possible penalty which the referee denied Thierry Henry. The Blaugrana had sufficient chances to win the game, only if they had been more accurate with their shots.

Though Chelsea prefer an inelegant destroyer role, it will be a folly for Pep Guardiola to assume Chelsea only know how to defend and will be a sitting duck at Stamford Bridge. While Guardiola refused to veer from his principle of “attack being the best form of defense,” the 62 year old Hiddink has seen enough in his lifetime to be flexible in his strategies as circumstances dictate.

The implication being that the Blues could very well take the game to Barcelona by attacking in waves since the odds are now in their favor. Let’s not forget that Guus Hiddink was schooled in the art of Total Football and is no stranger to a stylish, open, attacking play.

He led Holland into the semi finals of the 1998 World Cup and they were one of the most exciting teams on display. South Korea in the 2002 World Cup took the football community by storm with its cohesiveness, slick passing, and work ethics where the players maintain a high tempo of tireless running while their opponents slagged off in the final moments. The mastermind who lifted the Koreans to unimaginable heights of a World Cup: Guus Hiddink.

The Dutch maestro then took his magic to Australia and Russia and improved both teams substantially in fitness, discipline, confidence and purpose. Hiddink knows how to extract the best from limited and ordinary resources and getting them to function as a team.

Though Hiddink can count his blessings that Michael Essien returned from long-term injury to add muscle and technical ability to Chelsea’s midfield, it is the way he motivated underachiever Didier Drogba and polished a condemned player Florent Malouda into competence that made a huge difference.

Guus Hiddink will also revel in the knowledge that Guardiola has to replace two central defensive stalwarts, Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol, for the second leg due to injury and suspension respectively. Keeping things tight will be especially challenging if Chelsea decide to stamp their aerial superiority by pumping balls towards the marauding Didier Drogba.

I believe Pep Guardiola has a bright future ahead of him but it will be a tall order for him to outwit Guus Hiddink’s experience and tactical shrewdness. In fairness, Pep has already exceeded expectations in his debut managerial season. He won respect from friends and foes alike for his brand of attacking, possession and high-paced football that bordered on the obsessive.

To be sure, Pep Guardiola has his work cut out for him with a squad featuring Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Alves. Henry is Arsenal’s leading scorer, Eto’o Spain’s top scorer over the past five years, and Messi contributed consistently his fair share of assists and goals by tormenting defenses. You can’t go wrong with these lads, right?

Well, not too long ago, all three were in the team that finished 18 points behind Real Madrid last season. Eto’o was in the headlines for public spats with Ronaldinho while Henry lamented his role as a left wing water carrier. Nevertheless, the dark clouds dissipated and all three have outdone themselves under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola has molded and motivated the massive egos into the second version of Cryuff’s Dream Team, with better organization, passing, control, team spirit and a hunger for goals. He is an intelligent and perceptive person and being a former player at the highest level, he knows how and what the prima-donnas think.

Despite all the accolades, Guardiola has kept his feet firmly on the ground by constantly reminding supporters that his team has not won anything. He is right to temper unrealistic expectations and prepare for the worst in case everything unravels after a taxing encounter with Real Madrid in one of football’s most anticipated match known as El Clasico, followed by a do-or-die mission to Stamford Bridge to progress into Champions League finals.

Pep Guardialo is currently facing two camps of thought and I doubt he relishes this fine balancing act. Is El Clasico more important than the Champions League? His best players in the front line and midfield are at his disposal but there is a need to rest, refresh and rotate the squad. Lack of clinical strikes, dimming creativity as well as tiredness are starting to creep in; however, the first XI could be weakened considerably by any tinkering.

Losing the El Clasico is unimaginable to the true blue Catalans, of which Guardiola is a staunch member, having featured prominently in Cruyff’s Dream Team during his prime and is well-loved by Barcelona fans. He understands the mystique behind El Clasico first hand. To the die-hards, El Clasico is more than just the normal club rivalries, it is a derby scarred by decades of politics, hatred, oppression and cultural clashes.

Juande Ramos will have an easier decision to make. In fact, El Clasico could not have come at a better time for Real Madrid. Real’s elimination from the Champions League and the King’s Cup has allowed them to concentrate fully on the Primera Liga. Juande Ramos has done credibly in keeping pace with the league leader and to breathe down their neck relentlessly.

Real Madrid are in the driver’s seat in terms of momentum and they have a home ground advantage at the imposing Santiago Bernabeu – the bitter battlefield when Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat last year and had to applaud Real on to the pitch in the traditional tribute to the newly-crowned league champions.

In terms of injuries and suspensions, neither team has clear advantages. Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is out with a troubling knee injury and the loss of his expertise in building up attacks from the back will be felt keenly. Real defender Pepe has been banned for 10 matches following his sending off against Getafe. Real will also be without midfielder Guti (ankle injury), and it is unclear whether winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Wesley Sneijder will recover from muscle strains in time to feature.

This title race could go right to the wire if Real Madrid emerge with a victory. With four matches left and the title race separated by a wafer thin one point gap, Barcelona may crack under the intense pressure and bid farewell to their first league title in three years.

Conversely, if Barcelona eliminate the Men In White, the La Liga title is virtually theirs for the taking. With three home games coming up and no team has stopped Barcelona from scoring at Camp Nou this season (except for Chelsea), the points are more or less secure. They will also be able to face Chelsea in a more relaxed manner and progress to the Champions League Finals.

After the El Clasico, Barcelona have four days to recuperate and dismantle the Chelsea defense and then face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. In view of the hectic schedule, there is a high chance that Pep Guardiola’s debut managerial season may up in tears.

True champions emerge from trying circumstances so if Guardiola succeeds in negotiating all the hurdles, this baptism of fire will only strengthen his resolve and add to his experience. We could very well be witnessing a new era of dominance by the Blaugrana.

Even if Guardiola fails to deliver, he can give himself a pat on the back as the ground is sweet for a second assault on the Treble next season, provided the same team and management are kept intact.

Could this be the fanatical English media at work, fanning the flames just to keep our interest, especially now that football season has ended, or there is an element of truth, serious enough for Alex Ferguson to consider a replacement in the near future?

The player himself refused to give a firm commitment on his future, lending credence to the speculations. The rumor mill went into overdrive when Cristiano Ronaldo revealed, while picking up the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, that he harbors ambitions to play in Spain.

Manchester United were quick to set the record straight by insisting that the decision is theirs to make, given that Ronaldo has four years remaining on a five-year contract worth £120,000 a week. David Gill, the chief executive, also announced that Ronaldo is not for sale and it makes “no sense” to sell him, even for a world-record fee in excess of £50 million.

Manchester United fans can be forgiven for feeling uncertain about the Portuguese’s future since a palpable shift in his tone. Where once it was an unequivocal stance of long-term commitment to the Premier League champions, Ronaldo has left a question mark by saying: “I would love to play in Spain, but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be reality. I don’t know the club, but I know that they like my game. I am feeling calm and happy here, but in the future I don’t know.”

Indeed, it seems that Spain will make Cristiano Ronaldo even happier. Real Madrid insiders had actually placed “Project Ronaldo” on the backburner until at least 2009, but the flirtatious comments by the man himself, his agent Jorge Mendes, and those close to him, were an encouragement that Madrid could yet snag their biggest prize in recent history.

Another crucial element in their favor was the link-up of Ronaldo with sexy Spanish model Nereida Gallardo. Apparently, the Portuguese is so smitten by Gallardo that he had showered her with expensive gifts and marriage is even in the pipeline. If both intend to settle down soon, Gallardo may prefer Ronaldo to choose a club closer to where she works. Ferguson will of course has something to say about that. The last time a player (Beckham) was “led astray” by his spouse, the parting of ways was bitter and even bloody.

For now, we cannot determine the effect of Gallardo on Cristiano Ronaldo’s career but Ferguson is committed to keeping his prized asset by showing his sincerity. While basking in the glory of his second Champions League title, he made special mention that Ronaldo is a vital component of his plans for European domination. He said: “Real think they can ride roughshod over everyone, but they won’t do it with us. We only sold them Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham because we wanted to.”

Real president Ramon Calderon said that United trying to hold on to Ronaldo against his will is akin to slavery. Spanish sports daily Marca claimed earlier this week that the winger has already expressed his wish to join Madrid, obliging United to hold transfer negotiations.

Ferguson immediately lambasted Calderon and Schuster for using the Spanish media to unsettle players. “You get used to the way Madrid perform in these things. Calderon makes that great statement that slavery was abolished many, many years ago. Did they tell Franco that? Give me a break.”

Obviously, he is less than impressed with the unwanted attention of Madrid and their heavy-handed tactics. He believes that Queiroz’s first-hand experience of life at the Bernabeu could prove decisive in keeping Ronaldo at Old Trafford. His torrid time of only ten months at Madrid is a reminder to Ronaldo that failing to settle in and abiding by the rules of certain players can have dire consequences.

Queiroz, a strong candidate to replace Ferguson should the latter retire has been largely credited as Ronaldo’s mentor since his return to Old Trafford in 2004, a year after the winger’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon. He is also expected to form a similar bond with fellow Portuguese Nani. His words will carry sufficient weight to give Ronaldo food for thought about moving on.

I believe that a new deal is definitely in the making, possibly a £150,000 a week contract. Ferguson promised earlier to increase Ronaldo’s wages should he better his previous goalscoring record. He is also aware that his youthful team is subject to temptations and in order to keep them together, United has to follow the market trend. Suppressing wages, as what Arsenal are attempting to do, will be futile.

He said: “It doesn’t matter which player it is, the ones you want to keep you have to work hard to keep. In the modern day, that is a fact. It’s not lost on Manchester United and it’s not lost on Real Madrid either. We will not be moving anyone out.”

Actually, I don’t blame Ronaldo for looking for fresh challenges. After all, in his five years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo has won a Champions League and 2 Premiership titles, and he may want to try his luck with other clubs. When a player is young and he feels he has the world at this feet, he believes that anything is possible.

Rio Ferdinand is a good case in point. In his youth, he distinguished himself as one of the premier defenders in the country and Manchester United broke the transfer record in order to sign him. Nevertheless, his ambitions were not satiated and he wanted a stint in Spain or Italy.

Well, forward to four weeks ago, we saw him committing the remainder of his career to United by signing a new five-year contract. His salary is worth in excess of £100,000 a week and he is next in line to be United’s captain.

Ronaldo also need not look further than the unsuccessful migration of Thierry Henry to Barcelona. While at Arsenal, King Henry has everything, except a Champions League medal. He left the sanctuary which made him into a legend and enter the Nou Camp cauldron. Played out of position and being relegated to a runner than a main striker, he was clearly unhappy and his form, morale and confidence hit an all-time low. It is doubtful if he can be the same talismanic player, full of trickery and pace, even if he returns back to Emirates Stadium.

If Cristiano Ronaldo thinks Manchester United cannot win without him, he is seriously wrong. United are in a position now where they can dominate their peers for years to come and those who remain can collect plenty of titles to become legends. His departure will only hasten the development of other talents like Nani and Anderson who are waiting impatiently in the wings. The smart thing for Ronaldo is to stay at United, at least until Sir Alex retires.

Can Cristiano Ronaldo’s game survive in La Liga? In the first place, he still needs to improve in a few areas. For dead-ball situations, I believe Ronaldo is up there among the best with his composure, technique and accuracy but goals in open-play came at the expense of his assists. This season, he has become selfish and more interested in self-promotion but so long as the team is winning, nobody cares.

The story will be different if his goals dried up and he still persists in taking the chances at the expense of better positioned players. The team’s interests is sacrificed just to placate his vanity and thirst for individual glories. No manager will welcome such a player who has grown too big for his shoes, certainly not Alex Ferguson. Thus, Ronaldo cannot rest on his laurels and must work equally hard for himself and his team-mates if he wants to stay on top of his game.

Football is a collective effort and every member is important. In Ronaldo’s penalty miss against Chelsea at the Champions League finals, it shows that he is only human and if the other members of the squad did not pull their weight, the title is as good as lost. Being a dead-ball specialist and a potential Fifa Footballer of The Year winner, Ronaldo cannot shirk his responsibility for having cold feet and being labeled as a failure at the big stage.

Real Madrid have developed a taste of collecting United’s discards after their signing of Beckham, Nistelrooy, and Heinze. Hopefully, Ronaldo doesn’t make himself so unwelcome that United puts him on the blacklist. Alex Ferguson is not a man of sentiment and if push comes to shove, he will be the first to show Ronaldo to the door. From a business point of view, the sale of Ronaldo will allow United to buy another striker and an attacking midfielder and still have a healthy surplus left. Their ability to challenge for titles on all front will be barely dented too.

It is clear that Madrid is more interested in Ronaldo for commercial reasons than to develop him as a world-class player. The improved entertainment on the pitch will increase gate receipts, broadcasting revenue and merchandise sales. Since the departure of David Beckham, their bottom line was affected and so is their diminishing worldwide appeal, despite winning La Liga twice in a row.

They are not interested whether Ronaldo’s style will fit into the current team. Ronaldo loves to flash his skills instead of making short, direct passes and this desire to hog the limelight may not be tolerated by the team. Especially Ruud van Nistelrooy who previously got into a scuffle with the Portuguese in a training session at Old Trafford over issues of showmanship and not feeding him enough passes.

Cristiano Ronaldo is just starting on the road to greatness and if he leaves the guidance of Alex Ferguson to join other clubs, I am not sure if he will be able to fulfill his full potential. It will be better that he stays for the next few seasons at Old Trafford, until such time when he has matured not only in skills but also in his outlook that he ventures overboard.

By then, Ronaldo he may be 27-28, still in his prime, and United fans should not begrudge his departure after serving the club dutifully for nearly ten years.

The title is almost out of reach for Barcelona now but the careless manner in which points were dropped is disgraceful. The Catalans have won only once in its past seven league matches and time is running out with six games left. Heads will roll at the end of the season since Rijkaard has no excuses given the amount of talents at his disposal.

In this 2-2 draw against Recreativo Huelva, Barcelona rested Bojan Krkic, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta due to injuries while Ronaldinho was absent amid reports that he will be playing for AC Milan next season. However, Barcelona welcomed the return of Lionel Messi and their class showed in the way they pressed forward aggressively right from the start.

Barcelona established one-goal cushion on two occasions, thanks to Samuel Eto’o and created enough chances to win the game comfortably. But a shaky defense proved to be their undoing. Similar to last month encounter against Real Betis, where a 2-1 second-half lead reversed into a 3-2 defeat, Barcelona’s defensive lapses proved costly again.

I was impressed with Recreativo Huelva’s fighting spirit and work-rate. They were not cowed by Barcelona’s reputation and every ball was chased down. In the end, their efforts in besieging the Catalans were rewarded as Marco Ruben took advantage of a defensive mess to equalize with a 71st-minute header. Ruben had made it 1-1 in the 41st minute with another header. It was controversial as replays showed the ball had not crossed the line.

Mathematically, Barcelona are not out of contention for the La Liga yet. They have to clear Espanyol, Valencia, Mallorca, Deportivo, Murcia and, most importantly, Real Madrid. It is a tricky path to maneuver and more points may be dropped against Valencia and Deportivo. And not to forget, the small matter of Barcelona not tasting victory against Madrid since November 2005, a run of four matches.

Even if Barcelona win the remaining matches, Real Madrid still retain control over its own destiny and a calamity of three losses is needed for Barcelona to revive their hopes. In Europe, the situation for the 2006 Champions League winner is getting tedious. Though undefeated, they will face off with Manchester United (also unbeaten) in the semi-finals. The Red Devils are in sterling form currently and they will demolish Barcelona’s porous defense.

Meanwhile, the ball is in Real Madrid’s court. Though their 1-0 victory over Real Murcia wasn’t a high-quality display, it was enough for them to surge nine points clear of Barcelona and ten of Villarreal. Madrid exhibited their championship qualities by grinding out a win despite playing with ten men for nearly 70 minutes.

Murcia started with a 4-5-1 formation to stifle the midfield and Schuster responded with Robinho and Arjen Robben on the flanks to supply lone striker Raul. But Schuster’s strategy was ruined in the 19th minute when Miguel Torres was given a red card for stepping on the heel of a Murcia player.

Murcia, second from bottom in the table, made their numerical superiority count at times but their lack of finesse in front of goal, reflected in their deplorable statistic of less than a goal per game, saved Madrid.

At the end of the first half, Real Madrid were jeered by their demanding home fans as they had expected their team to dispatch such a lowly opponent by now. Fortunately, in the 59th minute, Sneijder scored with his only shot, making it his eighth goal in league play.

A throw-in from the right saw Murcia missing two chances to clear the ball before Sneijder latched on in the penalty area. He did not waste time in firing the ball into the upper right corner. Madrid grew more confident and they continued their plunder for a second goal, their pressure yielded about three times as many shots as Murcia when the final whistle blew.

This victory certainly ease Real Madrid’s route to their second consecutive La Liga title. Schuster was impressed with the way his players coped with Torres’ early dismissal. He has been criticized this season for Madrid’s boring style of play – speculation persists about his long-term future at the club – and he admitted Sunday’s win was another case of substance over style.

He said: “It was harder to find spaces in which to attack. I think there is a lot of merit in this victory, but I would have liked the game to be different. The only important thing is to take each game at a time and to try to win every single one. That’s what we are working on.”

I believe Real Madrid will clinch the title but I am not confident that Schuster will remain as manager for another term. Real Madrid have a penchant for sacking successful managers. Fabio Capello, much criticized during his second spell at Real Madrid for neglecting David Beckham and Ronaldo, secured the domestic title on the last day by pipping Barcelona.

The euphoria of filling the trophy cabinet, after several years of under-achievement, was unfortunately, short-lived. Real Madrid’s president, Ramon Calderon showed Capello the door soon after.

Another successful Real Madrid manager in recent history, Vincente del Bosque, also suffered the same fate just a day after he won the club its 29th League title. In both cases, the managers have illustrious records – Capello winning titles at every club he managed and del Bosque, over four seasons in charge, steered the club to two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, a Spanish Supercup, a European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup.

Apparently, winning titles do not ensure survivability of managers at Real Madrid. And when we consider that Schuster barely fulfilled the promise of replacing Fabio Capello with more entertainment, his position at the club is shaky.

Schuster did not transform Real Madrid’s playing style substantially; shades of Capello can still be seen in the team as they preferred to win in a tight and efficient manner rather than a swashbuckling approach. Failing to progress in the Champions League also put Schuster in a precarious position.

It is not unusual to yearn for changes when we are at the pinnacle. After discarding the galacticos approach and seeing positive results, the board is itching to return to their old ways. Real Madrid could not hide their adulation for Cristiano Ronaldo and they are preparing to break the bank to lure him over.

However, money is only part of the equation. Under Schuster, Real Madrid are not playing the kind of attractive football which will allow Ronaldo to showcase his full array of skills. A coach with stronger attacking credentials may be a different story though and Ronaldo may then be tempted to contemplate a lucrative transfer.

For the time being, I am not sure who will replace Schuster or if he will be replaced at all, but in Real Madrid, sentimentality counts for little. The last day of the season is always a dreadful moment for managers, successful or not.

Spalleti said: “I must congratulate my players. We played a great game and we made use of our counter-attack opportunities. It wasn’t easy to come back against Real but we’ve been patient and we’ve been rewarded.”

Real Madrid had a dream start and look set for a fourth victory when captain Raul stunned the Italians with an early goal. In the 8th minute, Arjen Robben scurried down the left and crossed for Guti. His weak shot will not have bothered Roma goalkeeper Doni but Raul was quick in sticking his foot out to divert the ball into the far corner.

Roma maintained their composure and nearly equalized within minutes, if not for the reflexes of Iker Casillas who stopped Marco Cassetti’s long range effort. The Italians continued with intermittent threats but it was obvious Real Madrid were calling the shots and plentiful chances emerged for them to take the lead.

However, luck and accuracy were not the order of the day. Ruud van Nistelrooy had a goal disqualified for offside. In the 21st minute, a mesmerizing run down the flanks from Robben created some space, from which a beautiful cross was floated but Raul, in the best of positions to capitalize, chose to head wide.

Three minutes later, Real Madrid paid for their slipshod finishing as Roma equalized. Francesco Totti found Mancini on the left and the Brazilian’s cross fell into the path of David Pizarro who beat Iker Casillas with a deflected shot off Fernando Gago.

While largely a pedestrian after his assist for the first goal, Totti sprang to life again after the break. In the 58th minute, the playmaker cum captain, showed why he is hailed as the Prince of Rome.

A perfectly-weighted pass dissected Real’s defense and allowed the onrushing Mancini to latch onto the ball, round Casillas and squeeze a shot into the net from a tight angle. On hindsight, if Gabriel Heinze had been less attack-minded, there will be sufficient cover instead of a gaping hole at Real’s rearguard.

In the 67th minute, Doni almost gifted Real Madrid a goal as he spilled a shot from Robben but it was cleared away in the nick of time. With 10 minutes left, Real manager Bernd Schuster made a double substitution involving Royston Drenthe (Robben) and Julio Baptista (Diarra).

Drenthe made immediate contributions as he crossed from the right for van Nistelrooy but the striker was unlucky to see his close range shot come back off the post. Two minutes later, after some excellent work by Raul, Baptista also had a chance to score but the ball, as if in a rugby match, was blasted well over.

I am not surprised if Real Madrid felt the defeat was unfair. Playing away, they accorded little respect to Roma, as they dominated possession and created clear-cut chances but were constantly denied and then went on to concede two goals.

This victory gives Roma a crucial advantage ahead of the return leg and to be fair, they were effective in dishing out Italian style football. Fact is, you can sleep for 89 minutes and score from the only shot on target. That is all the gulf you need between a winner and a loser and harsh reality it may be, but for some, it is the beauty of the game.

I feel that Real Madrid have nothing much to fear as their performance indicated that their creative juices are still flowing in abundance. With fanatical home support, they can be confident in overcoming this deficit.

Real also scored the all-important away goal which can be crucial in a tight match. This will force an open game as Roma will be less conservative in order to secure a safe passage, rather than to sit back and defend in numbers.

The only dark cloud for Real Madrid is the list of unavailable players. Sergio Ramos made the task harder after he was suspended for picking up a booking. This is a situation Schuster had hoped to avoid, with Pepe, Marcelo and Christoph Metzelder in the treatment room.

Schuster said: “We are going to suffer without Sergio Ramos. But then again I have only had my full defense for one game (through injuries) and that was against Barcelona. I would like to have more players available.”

A thin squad will of course be their undoing as they try to clinch the La Liga and Champions League. Fabio Capello won the League title but was sacked. It is difficult to outdo Capello, but anything less than a trophy (however insignificant), will make Schuster’s position even more precarious.

Come summer, I expect them to be again fully involved in the transfer market, to sustain their title challenges. But they do not need a Cristiano Ronaldo as another Galactico for next season, spending money to expand their defensive options will be a wiser choice.

Platini will also present a UEFA President’s prize to di Stefano and open an exhibition dedicated to him. Di Stefano said: “I will receive the tribute with warmth and enthusiasm, this is a very big honor for me.”

Many have acknowledged the 81-year-old Argentine, or the “blond arrow” as he is affectionately known, as the greatest player. If we look at his track record, there is no doubt he deserves the accolades.

Throughout his professional career, Di Stefano is regarded as a complete player, espousing the “total football” concept well ahead of his time. He can be shoring up the defense in one moment while blazing through the midfield in the next, supplying assists and helping himself to the goals all in the same game.

In spite of his ability to play anywhere on the pitch, his most eye-catching achievements stem from his striking prowess, with highly sought qualities like power, pace, stamina, positioning and vision.

Over a decade of service at Real Madrid spanning from 1953 to 1963, following a stint with Argentine giants River Plate, he has written a glorious chapter for himself. He is the La Liga all-time goalscorer with 216 goals in 282 league matches.

Real Madrid’s dominance in the continent was also due to an immense effort on his part – he guided them to victory in five successive European Cups (now known as the UEFA Champions League) between 1956 and 1960, scoring in each of the finals. His campaign in the European Cup for Real stood at 49 goals, a record now eclipsed by Raul but the latter took twice as many matches.

The crowning glory in Europe, which really cemented his position as a legend was the magnificent night at Hampden Park, Glasgow, 1960, when he inspired Real’s 7-3 European Cup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Such was the exquisite display of football, that 150,000 fans, mostly Scots, remained after the final whistle to give Real Madrid team a standing ovation.

In 1957 and 1959, Di Stefano was rightfully named European Footballer of the Year. Before he left Real Madrid, he had won the Spanish title eight times and was five times top scorer in the domestic league.

However, Di Stefano’s international accomplishment was uninspiring or to put it bluntly, ziltch. With six outings for Argentina, four with Colombia (not recognized then by FIFA), and 31 with the Spanish national squad, he never had the chance to lift the World Cup trophy.

Argentina did not participate in the 1950 and 1954 World Cup finals which were won by Uruguay and West Germany respectively. In 1956, after securing Spanish citizenship, Di Stefano figured in four Spanish qualifying games but they failed to qualify for Sweden ’58. He propelled Spain into the 1962 finals in Chile but a muscle injury ruled him out and he retired from the game.

The lack of achievement at the world stage was a blight to his illustrious career. How does he measure up to Maradona or Pele?

I feel that, at club level and on the premise that European leagues are superior, Di Stefano is indeed without peers. It is not easy for a foreigner to set foot on European soil; he not only adapted well but created a name for himself.

During that era, Real Madrid had another clinical poacher in Puskas but he joined in 1958, by then, Di Stefano had already won 4 consecutive European cup titles and established the previously unknown Spanish team into a footballing power.

Pele, highly successful for his national team (three World Cup medals) and in Brazilian leagues, never took up the challenge in Europe. That was no fault of his as the political pressure back home did not permit him to move aboard. Without any statistics, it is questionable if the King of Football can be equally successful in that environment.

As for Maradona, he had won many trophies with Boca Juniors, FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli over the course of his career. His effect on Napoli was nothing short of spectacular. The club enjoyed its most successful era when Maradona wore their jersey – their only Italian Championships, a Coppa Italia, a UEFA Cup and an Italian Super Cup.

Maradona captained the Argentine national team to victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, winning the final in Mexico against West Germany. In terms of technical abilities, it is fair to say that Maradona has more tricks in his bag but he was never as versatile as Di Stefano.

Who do you guys think is the best player among the three icons? I know it is a tough choice as all three are legends in their own right but whatever your opinion, come Sunday, the glory is all Di Stefano’s and nobody should take anything away from him.

Real are 4 points ahead of Barcelona and they will sign off the year as champions, regardless of this result. Both teams are in a rich vein of form – Real having won 4 of their last 5 La Liga matches while Barca have a perfect home record this season.

Scratching the wound of their rival, Real Madrid snubbed their fallen star with a disparaging remark. Sporting director Pedrag Mijatovic said he would not consider Ronaldinho even if he had the chance to sign him.

Barcelona was equally sarcastic in their response. Frank Rijkaard replied that he would not sign Raul even if he was offered on a platter. The two “rejects” happen to be among the most illustrious players ever to grace La Liga but remember, anything goes in this no-holds barred match.

To understand why El Clasico gets Spain all tingling with excitement, despite both clubs separated by nearly 700 km, a quick historical lesson is in order. Barcelona represents Catalonia, a northeast region of Spain, which strives for a distinct identity and greater autonomy. The locals never consider themselves Spanish even till today.

The centuries of rivalry between Catalonia and Castilla (home of Real Madrid) came to a head during the rule of Francisco Franco, lasting from the Spanish civil war in 1936 till his death almost 40 years later. The Franco dictatorship suppressed the Catalan culture ruthlessly and it was only at the Nou Camp that locals can express their identity freely with displays of Catalan flags and roaring Catalan cheers.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, symbolizes the state repressive regime under Franco. In the eyes of the Catalans, it is a Good vs Evil battle and they take immense pleasure in a win against Real Madrid – to compensate for their political and social loss. After Franco’s death, the rivalry is stoked by television coverage and four national sports dailies.

The fans were reminded of the club’s slogan, “More than a club,” this week when club president Joan Laporta agreed to dedicate part of ticket sales from this match to the Federacio Llull, a cultural organization which encourages the spread of the Catalan language since 1990.

Laporta said: “It is our responsibility to support such activities. We do it for our sense of national dignity … for our culture, because the Catalan language is a sign of identity for Barca.”

A sports club supporting language study – this is an issue best left to politicians while we focus on the soccer aspect. Who will be the victor from this encounter? Tough call.

Barcelona employ a quick passing game when moving forward but their weakness lies in a napping defense which Real will certainly exploit. They had conceded early goals previously and staying focused for the entire 90 minutes is essential. But at home, it is still an impregnable fortress for Barcelona.

Real Madrid will be kept on their toes as the most dangerous Barcelona player is back. He is none other than Samuel Eto’o, La Liga’s most clinical finisher. The 3 times African Player of the Year scored 24 goals in his first La Liga season and 26 goals the next season.

He missed one-third of last season with a knee injury but still registered 11 goals in 19 league appearances. This season, Eto’o continues to spend time in the treatment room but he looked sharp with two masterful goals against a clueless Valencia last week.

Eto’o chief strengths lie in his creativity and cunning runs from deep positions instead of lurking in the penalty box. That makes him extremely difficult to mark and once he is within the striking zone, the goalkeeper is helpless.

Barcelona’s attacking flair is turning into goals with Eto’o as the focal point. The lad loves playing against Real Madrid and if they do not neutralise him, half the battle is lost. Fabio Canavarro will have his hands full organizing the defense.

Thierry Henry is also expected to join the team after a long layoff from a lower back injury. The former Gunner has scored five goals in the Spanish league and two in the Champions League this season. If he hit his optimum capability and link up with Eto’o, Barcelona will be unstoppable. Unfortunately, without match fitness, he is likely to be benched as Rijkaard opts for Eto’o and Giovanni dos Santos in a 2-man front line.

Real Madrid can be grateful that Lionel Messi is out after tearing his left thigh muscle last weekend. The memory of Messi’s hat-trick, including a stoppage time equalizer last season to save Barcelona from an embarrassing 3-0 defeat must still be fresh in their minds. In star-studded Barca, Ronaldinho and Deco are able backups and can cause major problems if left unchecked.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be the main threat when Real launch the counter-attacks. Sergio Ramos is also dangerous with his overlapping runs. Robinho, his wife newly pregnant, is full of trickery and can draw lots of fouls from Barcelona with his dribbling and ball holding ability.

As for Raul, he is no longer terrorizing defenders as in his prime days but he remains a man for the big occasions and will be keen to show Rijkaard that he is far from being a spent force.

I don’t think the tension between both teams will be as high as in the past. Certainly, we won’t see the bathing of a pig head which greets Luis Figo. Real Madrid coach Schuster will see to that. He is a player highly regarded in both Real and Barcelona, having won La Liga and Spanish Cup winners’ medals at both clubs.

Schuster will receive a warm reception when he steps out of the tunnel on Sunday but after he ends Barcelona’s perfect home record, there is no telling if there will be any goodwill left.