Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has sensationally claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to return to Manchester United this summer.
As reported by Goal, former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo will depart from the Bernabeu in the summer transfer window. The Italian added that the Portuguese superstar wishes to return to Manchester United and reunite with compatriot Jose Mourinho.
Ronaldo has enjoyed one of the most storied careers in the history of the game, taking his career to the pinnacle since joining Real Madrid from Manchester United in the summer of 2009 for a then-world record £80 million fee. His prolific contribution for Los Blancos has led them to several honours in the last nine years.
Ronaldo has won 15 titles during his time at Real Madrid, while also laying his hands on the Ballon d’Or four times to go level with arch rival Lionel Messi, with five overall. His prolific contributions have also made him the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, scoring at a rate higher than anyone in Los Blancos’ history.
But, after winning a third successive Champions League title last month, Ronaldo put his Real Madrid future under a cloud with some minced words. Since then, he has iterated that he will offer further clarity in the “next few days” before also adding that he’ll be “back next year” during a trophy parade in the Spanish capital.
His mother’s recent comments have added to the uncertainty surrounding his future at Real Madrid. All this and more has unsurprisingly piqued the interest of some of the powerhouses in world football, with PSG being mooted as a possible destination. But, Manchester United could be the front-runners in his pursuit, if Fabio Capello is to be believed.
As reported by Goal, the former Real Madrid manager said, “I think that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to go back to Manchester, to play for United and being coached by his compatriot Mourinho.”
While a return to Manchester United would be nothing short of a dream move, for both the player and the club, it will only compound some of the problems at the club. For starters, the attack is eerily left-heavy following the arrival of Alexis Sanchez, with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial the other options to play on the left flank.
Even if Ronaldo isn’t deployed on the left side of the Manchester United attack and is given a more central role, as he has been at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho might have to sacrifice Romelu Lukaku, unless he deploys his compatriot behind the Belgian to play off him.
Moreover, there have been no reports to suggest that Manchester United are interested in bringing him back to Old Trafford just yet, even though his mother and the player himself would prefer such a move, making PSG the favourites to sign him if he indeed departs from Real Madrid.
Manchester United had been in a similar predicament last season, and a few other seasons previously as well, when Ronaldo’s Real Madrid future was mired in heavy uncertainty. For now it looks likely that the player will remain at the Bernabeu, despite his absence from their recent kit launch and rumours that his comments have unsettled the dressing room.
