McManaman increasingly saw his playing time reduced each year, as the club initiated their so-called "Galáctico" policy, with new high-profile players like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo arriving each year and standing above him in the pecking order. At the time, however, McManaman was known for his dogged determination to stay positive for the club's cause, even if it meant he had less playing time. In 2002, McManaman also turned down a transfer to Internazionale at the time when he was made available for exchange as part of Ronaldo's signing. It was widely reported in the Spanish media that McManaman's resilience to the team won the respect of his fellow professionals like Raúl, Zidane, Guti, Iván Helguera and his two best friends at the club, Figo and Ronaldo, who backed him publicly on several occasions in press interviews.