When Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for a record £80 million fee in 2009, it seemed he would never walk onto the pitch at Old Trafford in a red and black shirt again.
But over the last year, while he has continued to shine at new home Real Madrid, the striker has hinted on a few occasions that a return to England is always a possibility.
And with Ronaldo claiming that United are his favourite English side, fans the world over are hopeful and wishful that the 26 year old, who has continued to break records in La Liga since making the move, may one day come back to United where he grew into the superstar he is today.
As reports circulate that Ronaldo is being booed by Real Madrid fans on a regular basis, rumours that he may consider a return to United are cropping up once again.
But United already have a plethora of strikers and wingers, so what is it about Ronaldo that makes a transfer seem likely if the opportunity arose? IBTimes UK takes a look at whether the superstar would make a good fit for Sir Alex Ferguson’s current line-up.
He’s said in the past he’d consider it
Ronaldo has said that he is unsure of where his future lies when his contract runs out with Real Madrid in 2015. The striker has admitted that if he did make the move back to England, United would be the most likely destination, telling reporters towards the end of last year: “I hope so one day [to move back to England], but you never know. The team that I like more in England is Manchester but I cannot say that I am going to play there one day because I am very, very happy in Madrid.” While he didn’t commit to anything, the Portugal international certainly admitted he’d consider it.
Mourinho could be joining him
Sir Alex Ferguson last year left the most telling hint of when his retirement date would be, telling reporters he had ‘three or four years left’ at United. The legendary manager currently has in excess of 35 trophies with the club, and he will be near impossible to replace once he hangs up the hairdryer at Old Trafford for the last time. If he should ever retire though, Mourinho would appear to be one of the most apt replacements for the Scotsman, with his record across different leagues and ability to withstand pressure from the media speaking for itself. And if Mourinho makes the move to United, that could pave the way for Ronaldo to join him from Madrid
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Ferguson’s admitted he still likes him
Ferguson himself admitted that he would love to have Ronaldo back at United, though he admitted it would be difficult to bring the superstar on board. “It would be very difficult,” Ferguson said in April. “He had a great time here but he is at a great club now too. I spoke to him after the game [between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg last season]. He had a great time here, we got six years out of him. We got him as a kid and he went to Madrid a man. He is enjoying being there and… is still a great player.”
He provides some great entertainment
Love him or hate him, Ronaldo has a way of creating headlines the second he opens his mouth to the press. In general, his assertions that he is indisputably the best in the world, and anyone who thinks otherwise is jealous, have brought a great deal of laughter to football fans the world over. But unlike most footballers who tow the line in every press conference, giving the credit to their team, saying they’re happy to fight for their place and insisting they don’t like personal accolades, Ronaldo’s honesty makes him an interesting character at the least, and a breath of fresh air off the pitch at best.
Because the fans will love him again
Ronaldo has been nothing short of controversial for the entirety of his career, but United fans weren’t at all bothered by that when he was scoring goals for the club. Real Madrid fans, on the other hand, have reportedly been booing the £250,000 a week man, with sources claiming that the fans are unhappy that his goals aren’t translating to trophies while Barcelona keep moving further ahead. Should Ronaldo make the move to United, he will be competing against big spending Manchester City, but the star will always have the fans on side, much like Wayne Rooney does despite his off field controversy.
He’s ideally suited to the Premier League
Ronaldo learnt his tactics in the Premier League, and after learning individual skills in La Liga, the 26 year old would be even better than when he left United for a record £80 million fee in 2010. He’s admitted he believes the Premier League is more competitive, telling reporters: “They are the two best leagues in the world but the English Premier League is more competitive. La Liga is competitive but not as intense as England.In England, it is more intense, referees let the game go on more, and I think fans there like that. I like that too – quick football, tackles, it’s brilliant.” And with the 2014 World Cup looking like Ronaldo’s big chance to shine after a disappointing 2010, he could well prefer a league that will be more testing.
His goalscoring records don’t lie
Ronaldo has gone from strength to strength since moving from United to Real Madrid in the summer of 2010. So far, the Spanish giants have got their £80 million worth for the superstar, with Ronaldo breaking the record of most goals scored in a La Liga season, with 40 smashing the old record before the season had even ended. He won the European Golden Shoe trophy last year for being the top scorer across all European domestic competitions, and is not looking likely to let up, with his trickery continuing to elude the opposition on the field.
（International Business Times）
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