Why Ronaldo's ego is making him a huge threat, both to himself and to opponents

By Guillem Balague

Published 06:01 29/01/10

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Spain is divided over whether Ronaldo intended to break a Malaga player’s nose last week or not. Whatever side you’re on, the new Galactico’s reaction - that he was the victim - is worrying. As a Malaga player said: “Clearly the nose was at fault!”

As his opponent lay bleeding, the sight of Ronaldo on his knees, arms raised to the heavens wailing in frustration at the injustice of it all, confirms for his critics what they’ve have been saying all along: that his ego is out of control.

Away from the carefully controlled environment of Old Trafford, Ronaldo’s belief that he is the best is in danger of making him a liability – yet at the same time his insatiable desire to prove he is the best is driving him on to ever greater heights.

Ronaldo was sent off four times in five years while with Manchester United, yet has been dismissed twice already with Real Madrid in just 20 games.

That is impressive considering the passionate physical nature of the Premier League and testament to Alex Fergsuon’s ability to harness the competitive edge that drives the Portuguese star.

Real Madrid are struggling to contain that fiery character and some of his team-mates have suggested that Ronaldo’s obsession with being number one is making him ‘overexcited out on the pitch'.

Yet they also know that it is the very same desire to be the best, to score the winning goal and to win every game that makes him the unstoppable force he frequently is.

The disciplinarian Ferguson used a big stick to keep Ronaldo in check (not literally a stick, but Gary Neville did the trick).

There is neither a Fergie nor a Neville on hand at the Bernabeu. Let off the leash, Ronaldo could run out of control; yet he is also becoming a much more dangerous player at the same time.

It could go spectacularly wrong, but the reward is mesmerising – and probably worth the risk...

Guillem Balague's column appears in association with www.icons.com

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