RUUD TO REGRETS?

Ruud van Nistelrooy completed his move to Real Madrid and admitted his pain at leaving the club he had grown to love, saying that his deteriorating relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson was the reason for the transfer.

Ruud van Nistelrooy had become a fans favourite during his time at Old Trafford and was destined to become the club's greatest ever scorer, with a record of 150 goals in 200 starts (219 apps) Sir Bobby Charlton's club record of 247 goals was certaintly within reach of the prolific 30-year old Dutchman.

It started in 2000 when Ruud van Nistelrooy was all ready to join United until he failed his medical and days later suffered a horrific knee injury which would delay his transfer for a year. Whilst Ruud was recovering from his injury Sir Alex showed his faith and desire to capture the Dutchman by visiting him in hospital and being in constant contact with the striker, something which in 2001 lead Van Nistelrooy to snub Real Madrid and finally sign for Manchester United.

The striker repaid Fergie's faith and United fans got an early glimpse of the striker in the Community Shield when he scored a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat versus Liverpool and then followed it up with a League debut double versus Fulham at Old Trafford in a 3-2 win, the Van man had arrived and his compatriot Edwin Van Der Sar in the Fulham goal knew all about it! Ruud ended his debut season with 36 goals and had created an amazing record breaking partnership with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in which the deadly duo notched 61-goals between them.
Something which was massively eclipsed in 2002/03 when he scored an incredible 44-goals which helped United topple Arsenal and lift his first and only League trophy with the club. In that time Ruud van Nistelrooy became the only man to score in eight consecutive league games and scored an amazing solo goal versus Fulham.

In 2003/04 he scored 30 goals for the club which ended in him bagging a double versus Millwall in the FA Cup final, the score ended 3-0 and Van Nistelrooy picked up his second trophy with the Red Devils. The Dutchman had proved to be one of United's most prolific strikers in the three seasons at the club, breaking all sorts of records and scoring 110 goals, proving that Fergie was right to wait for his man.

2004-05 proved to be Ruud's less productive season as it was hampered with injury. He scored 16 goals in 27 appearances and was still the Champions Leagues' top scorer with eight goals. In that time Van Nistelrooy had become United's all-time leading European goalscorer, toppling the King of the Stretford End, Dennis Law's record. 38 goals in 47 Champions League games was his European record for United. It was also revealed that Van Nistelrooy had asked for a transfer request, the first time, on the same day of the FA Cup Final in which Manchester United, despite dominating, squandered many chances and lost on penalties to Arsenal.

Ruud van Nistelrooy remained at United and in 2005-06 was United's top scorer yet again notching 24-goals but it was another troubled season for the striker. From August 2005 to February 2006 he was a regular scoring 19 goals, scoring an amazing goal versus Charlton at the Valley, chest and volley to perfection. This game was also special because he scored his first goal for United outside of the box.

The New Year though saw rumours of a rift between Van Nistelrooy and Fergie. Sir Alex gave him a "test" by starting games with Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney. The first time in five years Van Nistelrooy had found himself not first choice anymore and the "test" was failed. It is thought Van Nistelrooy's attitude dropped and it came to the forefront in the Carling Cup Final when Saha started and Van Nistelrooy remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes. Despite celebrating with the fans during the game Ruud found it hard to do the same with the team and left the pitch promptly.

He was benched for the following 6-games, with rumours of a rift dismissed, he came back to score vital goals versus West Ham and Bolton in the title run in but when Van Nistelrooy was dropped in favour of young Guiseppe Rossi for the final league game of the season versus Charlton, he stormed out of Old Trafford before kick off and Ferguson stopped him from playing in Keano's testimonial, Ferguson said there were a "number of issues to be discussed with the club's directors" and that he affected the "spirit at the club".

That seemed to be the last straw at United and during the World Cup Van Nistelrooy was also dropped by Marco Van Basten. Had Ferguson been the first to see a fall in attitude, determination and the rest of it?

Before he left though Sir Alex praised the player's attitude as he returned to training and had considered keeping the player, Ruud van Nistelrooy signed for Real Madrid in an £11m deal which will see him team up with former United team mate David Beckham. Van Nistelrooy remained an honorable man though saying this in his press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu:
"I had an incredible five years in Manchester and I will always remember my time there and the unconditional support from the fans.
I never got to say goodbye to Ferguson but there is plenty of time for that. I owe him a lot and that is why it was so painful.
Ferguson did a lot for me, waiting for me while I was injured then giving me the chance to play and giving me confidence," it was nice to see the player we have grown to love not disrespect us, and it was good to see he returned to training and had the chance to say goodbye to the staff and the players."

Manchester United also released this statement:
"Manchester United would like to wish Ruud all the best at his new club and thank him for the great service he provided."

So the end of a legend's United career, but was it coincidence that following Ferguson's fallout with the striker that Van Basten also found reason to drop him? Will Sir Alex regret it or will it prove to be another time where Ferguson has got rid of a player just before their sell by date?

It remains to be seen but what has been witnessed by United fan's since 2001 is that Van Nistelrooy is one of the club's true greats, he has written his name in United folklore and will forever be remembered!

Thanks and Good luck!

His record:
League - 95 goals in 137 games (13 as sub)
FA Cup - 14 goals in 11 games (3 as sub)
League Cup - 2 goals in 5 games (1 as sub)
Europe - 38 goals in 45 games (2 as sub)
Charity Shield - 1 goal in 2 games

TOTAL - 150 goals in 200 games (19 as sub)

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