Manchester United have lost control of Cristiano Ronaldo again and don't have their old trump card

Maybe the last time Cristiano Ronaldo failed to get his own way over a transfer was in the summer of 2008 and on that occasion it didn't work out too badly for Manchester United.

Ronaldo was desperate to join Real Madrid after five seasons at Old Trafford and the transfer saga was a toxic one. United reported Real to FIFA and Ronaldo himself said he was "a slave" for being forced to stay at United, a club where he had four years left on a generous contract.

Ultimately, United failed to cave in during the summer of 2008 and kept Ronaldo. Sir Alex Ferguson refused to give in to Real Madrid and not only managed to keep Ronaldo, but also coax another superb season out of him.

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There was an acceptance Ronaldo would be gone the following year and the goals did dry up a little, scoring 26 times in 53 games in 2008/09, but he won the Ballon d'Or that season and United won the title and reached the Champions League final, before Ronaldo sealed that move to Madrid.

United's hardline negotiations worked well 14 years ago, keeping a world-class player for another season and still pocketing a substantial fee. Ever since then Ronaldo has generally called the tune on his career and to assess how times have changed, it's worth recalling a Pep Guardiola quote from last summer, when it looked like Manchester City would sign him rather than United.

"In my personal view, there are few players, Cristiano included, Messi of course, they decide where they are going to play," said Guardiola. "Cristiano will decide where he wants to play. Not Man City, not myself."

Now Ronaldo has decided he doesn't want to play at Old Trafford and if it's surprised anyone at United than they've been guilty