Nowadays it is not uncommon for a player to transfer between clubs, so it is very likely that Manchester United will eventually face one of their former players, and that player has the right to decide to either celebrate, or not to celebrate if they score.
Two of United stars from last season, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, decided on moves away from Old Trafford and pursue their careers elsewhere.
Ronaldo secured his boyhood dream of playing for Real Madrid, while Tevez decided to join the revolution at United’s cross-town rival, Manchester City.
Gone
Ronaldo showed his gratitude and appreciation to his former club, Sporting Clube de Portugal, when he scored against them in the Champions League in 2007.
He started to celebrate his fantastic diving header, but he immediately stopped and raised his arms with acknowledgment, and then asked them for forgiveness.
He was rightly clapped by both sets of supporters for his humbleness.
United had a few of their former players score against them in the past, but none were more significant than the goals by Dennis Law and Paul Ince.
Respect
In 1973, Dennis Law was allowed to leave on a free transfer and he signed for City. He scored one of the most memorable goals against United that saw them go down to the second tier of English football for the first time in 37 years.
Although he was mobbed by his teammates and City supporters, Law did not celebrate the cheeky back-heeled goal, and later said that it was one of the saddest days of his life.
He has showed his humility towards United supporters when said that the results of the other matches had already sent United down to the Second Division.
Law was a United legend, and along with great George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, they formed the infamous ”The United Trinity.”
Disrespect
Paul Ince scored against United for Liverpool in 1998, and he peeled away as he just scored the winner in the World Cup final.
Ince was a well-liked outspoken, industrious midfielder during his time at Old Trafford, so it was a surprise to see how he reacted when he scored against the Reds for their hated-rival.
Ince was sold by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 1997 to Inter Milan, because he wanted to start to field some of his maturing, up-and-coming fledglings.
He was not necessarily seen as a surplus by Ferguson, but when a club offers 8 million for a player, a club has to seriously think about taking the offer. Like with Tevez, Ferguson saw this completely as a business decision.
Consider
Manchester City’s Emanuel Adebayor’s bold celebration when he scored in the 4-1 defeat of Arsenal was a little too much.
He had the audacity to run the length of the pitch, slide on his knees and raise his arms in celebration in front of the travelling supporters.
The abuse that the Arsenal supporters gave him was not called for, but he never his ambition to leave the club the season before. When commitment and desire is questioned, the club will win every time.
Torment
Carlos Tevez said that since he was booed by the crowd at Old Trafford, he will not think twice about not celebrating if he scores at the City of Manchester Stadium.
He said that the United supporters showed a lack of respect to him and they forgot about the two years of service he gave them.
Tevez was adored by all of the United supporters during his two-year loan spell with the club, but once they knew he was not going to sign for United, the love affair was over.
After he scored against City last season, he ignored celebrating with his teammates, and ran to the center of the field, looked up at the Director’s box, and cupped his ears.
That not only showed complete disrespect to the United supporters and Sir Alex Ferguson, but to the Manchester United Board of Directors as well.
To actually think that United actually offered Tevez after that a contract is despicable.
Modern-day players do not realize that fans support the club rather than a certain player. They know that players come, and players go, so they support the sum of the parts rather than parts.
Manchester United is a club that has been built on tradition, pride and respect, and as some players quickly find out - they are never bigger than club.
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