Cristiano Ronaldo: Return electrifies ManU fans – Did Alex Ferguson lure him back?

The word of coaching legend Sir Alex Ferguson still carries weight at Manchester United, even for former players of the English football champions. A call from Sir Alex to Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly the final factor on Friday before the Portuguese superstar decided to return to Old Trafford. The comeback of the 36-year-old Ronaldo, who collected titles with the Red Devils from 2003 to 2009, threw the fans, who were no longer so used to success, into euphoria.

“Good morning. No, it wasn’t a dream,” tweeted Manchester United on Saturday, summarizing the mood after a turbulent day of transfer. As recently as Friday afternoon, some supporters had broken with the football idol because rumors were growing that he would switch to the hated local rivals Manchester City. A video even circulated showing a fan burning his red Ronaldo jersey. He must have regretted it. Because a short time later Man United announced the sensation: “Welcome home, Cristiano!”

Cristiano Ronaldo meets old friends at ManU

Ronaldo’s national team colleague Bruno Fernandes and former teammates are also said to have encouraged the five-time world footballer in text messages. United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who played with Ronaldo for four years at Old Trafford, had sent clear signals at a press conference. “If he ever wants to change, he’ll know we’re here,” said Solskjaer.

After the announcement of the change, the media largely agreed: Even if CR7 is already 36, Man United has achieved a spectacular coup. “Ronaldo is in the fall of his career, but his numbers show that he is still a top player,” wrote the Times. His mission is to “bring United back to the English soccer summit,” said “The Athletic”.

CR7 return: not as spontaneous as it seems?

On his first engagement at Old Trafford, Ronaldo won three championship titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup under coach Ferguson, who is considered his sporting foster father. Can the successes of earlier days be repeated? In a poll by British broadcaster Sky Sports News, 69 percent of respondents said United would win the Premier League this season. Chelsea, Liverpool and certainly also defending champion Man City have a say in that.

Speaking of Man City. The Red Devils should be particularly pleased that the Cityzens, who were once ridiculed by Ferguson as “noisy neighbors”, and their angry coach Pep Guardiola have snatched the dream player from under their noses. If it is so. Several media outlets reported that United had long been working on Ronaldo’s return and had been holding talks for months. The Glazers, the controversial billion dollar club owners from the USA, have signaled their willingness to pay. It is quite possible that not everything happened as spontaneously as it now looked.

Image gain for ManU can hardly be quantified

Either way. How important it was for Man United to make it clear that the captain of the Portuguese national team will not move to rivals City is shown by the unusual measure of announcing the move immediately after the agreement with Juventus Turin. Before the contract with Ronaldo and his work permit – which is undoubtedly only a matter of form – are clarified and he has completed his medical check-up.

Even beyond his sporting qualities, Ronaldo’s return is a success for the record champions, not only because he will ensure that the new jerseys sell well. Manchester United had lost some of its charisma in recent years. The fact that the club is now – after the obligations of England star Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and the French world champion Raphaël Varane from Real Madrid – succeeds in the transfer cracker of the Premier League summer is an enormous image boost, far beyond England.