You are the Man U chairman

[TightEnd]

there was an interesting question posed on MOTDextra

You are one of Europe's big teams, looking to win the CL and your domestic league. the example given was Man U after recent newspaper speculation

You are offered Bale at £100m or Ronaldo at £60m and can only buy one

bearing in mind age and skill, which do you buy?

[Ironside]

Bale

[George2Loose]

Head says Bale. Heart Ronaldo.

Problem is can Bale stay fit? If so he would crush the PL and give United some much need pace.

Think Ronaldo is hugely over priced but would obviously also do well. Someone pointed out you'd probably be able to recoup a lot of the money through shirt sales/merchandise

[horseplayer]

Either whichever would dominate the league

[TheDazzler]

Bale has resale value, Ronaldo doesn't.
If Ronaldo went for just £60m, I'd imagine his wages would be astronomical, much higher than Bales, so that narrows the cost gap. Having said that, Ronaldo would be much bigger merchandising wise, so perhaps not?
But the pertinent question probably is which improves Man United more?
If you had Ronaldo, presumably he'd play up front, Martial out to LW, Rooney to RW/CAM, Mata RW/CAM?
If you have Bale, he'd go to LW, Martial up front, Rooney RW/CAM, Mata RW/CAM?
I think the Ronaldo lineup looks better.

Obviously they would both be cup tied for Champs League this year so if it's in January, it would obviously be good for the league but irrelevant for Champs League this year.
And then next year, Ronaldo is a year older so...........

Hypotheticals aside, I don't think Ronaldo is coming back. Bale, on the other hand, seems to be linked a lot so I think that's more likely to happen.
And really what United need is a RW. Mahrez or Mane in January would be nice. And a lot, lot cheaper.

[arbboy]

resale value doesn't matter.  You are selling neither for anything other than a fraction of what you paid for them (relative to the current market) once their use at manure is done.  You will only sell either if they are a flop in which case you will get feck all for them anyway.  If they succeed they won't leave.

Another way to look at resale value is Madrid would have assumed they have very little resale value with Ronaldo.  Now they will probably get their money back for him after having his peak 7 years.  Mainly because tv money in football has sent the market crazy.  A washed up Ron or Bale might be worth £60m in 2021 when top stars are going for £300m.  It is all relative to the going rate in the market even if they get the absolute cash value back for him.  They are not going out and spending that same money on a 23 year old version so they still lose relatively even though they get their cash back.

To answer the question i would take £60m ron over £100m bale every day of the week.

[Boba Fett]

Easily Ronaldo!

He might be a few years older but we are looking to win now, not build a team for the future and right now Ronaldo is a better player and a better athlete and going by recent history will be fit for more of the season than Bale.

Also I think if you're in win now mode, having Ronaldo makes Man U more attractive for other stars players looking to win now than Bale would

[TightEnd]

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is so furious after the defeat to Barcelona that he wants manager Rafael Benitez replaced, reportedly saying: "Either he goes, or I go."