Four years after he left Real Madrid, is Cristiano Ronaldo headed back to the Spanish side? Reports in recent days suggest the Portuguese superstar could be set to leave Manchester United.
Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida tweeted early on Monday Ronaldo could leave Manchester United as he may not be a key figure in plans by new coach Erik Ten Hag to rebuild the side.
Ronaldo has had a splendid season in terms of goals, since joining Manchester United from Juventus last year. He has scored 23 goals for the side, but Manchester United's woeful form has led to calls to rejig the side.
“United are preparing for their third manager in less than a calendar year with Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag ready to start a huge rebuild this summer after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November and replaced by interim boss Ralf Rangnick. While Madrid would take him back this summer and give him plenty of playing time next season, it's unclear whether Ten Hag views the veteran attacker as key to United's immediate future. Both Solskjaer and Rangnick hardly ever left Ronaldo out when he was fit. But Ten Hag is planning a new United future built on high energy and youth—and Ronaldo will not be guaranteed to play every game,” The Mirror reported.
The Mirror added that Ronaldo's excellent personal form has led to “influential key figures” at Real Madrid wanting him back as “he'll bring guaranteed goals in LaLiga”.
Having scored 451 goals in 438 appearances for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018, Ronaldo is an icon for the Spanish side. Real Madrid details his record with the side, noting “Nobody throughout the club's history has scored as many goals as the Portuguese attacker, who boasts an impressive trophy haul as a Real Madrid player: Four Champions League crowns, three Club World Cups and UEFA Super Cups apiece, two LaLiga titles, a pair of Copas del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. This list of honours is completed with four Ballons d'Or, three Golden Shoe awards, two The Best awards, whilst he was named UEFA Best Player in Europe three times and landed the Pichichi crown on three occasions.”