Having started proceedings before the game, Cristiano Ronaldo surely signed his divorce papers from Manchester United with his antics as Portugal sent England crashing out of the World Cup in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday night.

Once Wayne Rooney had stamped on Ricardo Carvalho's groin it was inevitable that England's talisman would be taking the walk of shame back to the dressing room.

Yet the intervention of his Manchester United team-mate, who appealed to the referee for action to be taken against Rooney before winking in the direction of the Portugal bench to signify a job well done, makes it virtually impossible to see the two ever forming a successful partnership again.

Had it been anyone else in the England team (well, except Gary Neville or Rio Ferdinand) Ronaldo would probably have had the backing of a vast swathe of United fans, whose antipathy towards the national side is well known.

From the 'Stand Up If You Hate Man U' chants that rang around Wembley during internationals in the 90s to the Beckham effigies after World Cup 98 to the slating of Phil Neville following Euro 2000, many United fans have little time for 'Team England' and all that surrounds it.

And the opportunity to cheer the man who ultimately knocked them out of the World Cup - if not for his contribution to a red card then certainly for his decisive penalty kick - would have been one plenty at Old Trafford would have relished.

But the involvement of Rooney makes everything different.

These are worrying times for United fans.

The Glazers' takeover has cast a looming shadow over M16 at a time when things on the field have taken a definite downturn, with this a mediocre Red Devils team by recent standards and Sir Alex Ferguson apparently struggling to recruit new talent.

Through it all Rooney has been the shining light - a footballing giant who despite his youth has carried those around him with his unquenchable thirst for victory.

Admittedly Ronaldo has showed signs of a bright future too, albeit in fits and starts, and certainly has the individual ability to be one of the world's greatest players.

But he needs to harness his tricks and flicks before he finds himself in his mid-20s known more as a showboating circus performer than a genuine world-class footballer.

Rooney has a sense of purpose about him every time he picks up the ball while Ronaldo seems to be considering how to exhibit his latest audacious training-ground creation rather than focusing on the business at hand.

Of course, United's (with the possible exception of Ruud van Nistelrooy) have been happy to cosset the Portuguese winger in the belief that with maturity - and the right guidance - he will become the great player he should be.

The club - and Ferguson in particular - supported him through dark times this season as first his father died then he was falsely accused of rape at a London hotel.

But almost as soon as he was out of Ferguson's control and into Portugal's World Cup camp, the story leaked out that he wanted a move to Real Madrid.

Not the murky talk of agents feeding the story-hungry newspapers, or even of one of the publicity-seeking Real presidential candidates - although it is Juan Miguel Villar Mir behind the deal - but apparently from the man himself.

Ronaldo is reported to have said: "I've told my agent I'm prepared to leave but I want to do it in the best manner possible. I want to play for Real and dream of doing so.

"I've gone with Villar Mir's project because it's serious and follows correct procedures. They've explained to me their plans and the next step is they will talk to Manchester United to open negotiations.

"Other candidates wanted me to sign a document which is not legal. Villar Mir has promised me he will talk to the club and all we have done is talk through an agent."

Given the chance to put the record straight immediately after Portugal's victory, Ronaldo refused to be drawn on the minutiae of the deal but said HE would decide his future once he returned home after the tournament.

But having spoken of his dream of joining Real Madrid then following that up days later by playing an unnecesary - and unbecoming - part in Rooney's dismissal he may well find the decision has been taken for him.