Turncoats between red & blue

By Kieren Hassan, published on 27/08/21

With the fast approaching speculation & sources coming out confirming that Manchester City could well land themselves Ex Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo I will be going through other known names to leave the Red side of Manchester & end up in the Blue. Cristiano was a young boy with a lot to learn but so much talent at his feet when he played against Manchester United in 2003 for Sporting CP, to then be signed by Sir Alex Ferguson that summer for £12.24 million & the most expensive teenager in world football, to go on to become a Ballon D’or winner with United & winning the Champions League, the pinnacle of Club football. United fans still sing Viva Ronaldo to this day, so now with speculation & seeming interest for Ronaldo to join the blue side of Manchester despite the reds adoring him, how will this fare? Let’s take a look at some of the past United players in history that’ve done similar.

Carlos Tevez

After a spell at West Ham & a lengthy & tricky signing process involving ownership of Tevez, Manchester United sealed Tevez on a two year loan in 2007. Tevez went onto become a lethal attacking trio with Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney in which won the Champions League & premier league in the 2007-2008 season. Things turned bitter when United didn’t try to sign Tevez to a permanent contract with Tevez coming out to say he’ll be leaving United due to this. Once the season had ended Tevez had signed for their local rivals Manchester City, the blue side whilst being unveiled by a big blue sign saying “Welcome to Manchester” with Tevez on the front as he was unveiled as a blue. This hurt United fans after they were wanting Ferguson to sign Tevez up permanently but it turned even more sour with Tevez holding up a sign saying “R.I.P Fergie” with the date that City had won the title in the last few minutes with that famous AGUEROOOOO goal that still haunts United fans & players alike, Tevez ended up having success at both sides of Manchester but will be remembered for positives & negatives for both after having off the field issues leading to bitterness between Tevez & Ferguson as well as Tevez and Roberto Mancini.

Brain Kidd

Whilst Tevez was there, Brian Kidd was also there, though Brian Kidd didn’t just jump across the barrier between Red & Blue once, but twice. Kidd on his 19th birthday scored in the 4-1 win over Benfica in the European Cup Final to secure himself & players such as Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best & Denis Law the Trophy. Kidd left Manchester United in 1974 & signed for City 2 years later in 1976 playing for them for 3 year. Kidd came back to the red side of Manchester in 1988 under Sir Alex Ferguson’s leadership as a youth team coach to be promoted to Ferguson’s assistant in 1991 & departing in 1998 to manage & relegate Blackburn Rovers. In 2009 Kidd joined Manchester City as a youth team coach & became assistant manager as well as interim for a short period in 2013 after Mancini was relieved of his duties. Kidd only left Manchester City after the end of last season to retire after a long career in football as a Player & Coach.

Denis Law

Law was a part of the United side that won the European Cup in 1968 but was ruled out of the Semi finals & Final due to an ongoing knee injury causing him issues. He was one of the three that made up the United Trinity of George Best, Sir Bobby Charlton & himself that all won a Ballon D’or in their times at United & now have a statue outside of Old Trafford in honour of the players legacy left on the history of Manchester United. Regardless of this Law had actually been at Manchester City previous to United after they beat Busby to his signature, he ended up wanting to go somewhere more competitive & ended up at Torino. After one season in Turin, Law had decided to return to Manchester but this time to the Red side, with Sir Matt’s management of the Scottish side helping to secure Law’s signature. Eventually in 1973 Law returned to the Blue side of Manchester & in the last game of the season is known for a late backheel goal in at Old Trafford which he could not celebrate against a club he loved regardless of being Citys rivals as he believed it would relegate the reds, the goal itself didn’t matter & other results relegated United regardless & Law retired after the season ended.

Sir Matt Busby

Here is one that may be a big surprise to some. Sir Matt Busby was a blue before he was red, even more so he was even a Liverpool player before being involved with United. As a player Busby played for Manchester City between 1928-1936 & then went to Merseyside in 1936 becoming their Captain before the Second World War broke out. When turning to management after coming out of the war he signed with Manchester United after United had tried to sign Busby in 1930 from their Blue rivals. He is one of the most influential Manager’s not only in United’s history but in European football with the emergence of The Busby Babes (before the tragic event in Munich) & the resurgence of the club with players like George Best coming through with Munich Survivors like Harry Gregg & Sir Bobby Charlton helping Busby & his right hand man Jimmy Murphy get the club back to where it belongs. Busby, an Icon among the red side of Manchester like Law despite being a blue previous & also like Law, having his own statue outside of the stadium to show just how big Busby & “The Busby Way” that the United fans sing have influenced Manchester United & English football.

Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel is considered among the best ever Manchester United goalkeepers to have graced the shirt, but after winning countless trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson & a Treble including the Champions League in 1999, Schmeichel left the Red Devil on a high note. In 2002 after stints at Sporting CP & Aston Villa Schmeichel called Ferguson up to ask about joining a Manchester City side that had just been promoted when they signed him. Schmeichel went on to beat United 3-1 at Maine Road with Schmeichel celebrating which left a bitter taste for the Red Devil’s.