Ronaldo to return to Man United only after …

• Posted on September 19, 2014September 19, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Real Madrid and secure a remarkable return to Manchester United, Goal has learned – but only after he has become the all-time record goalscorer for the Spanish side.

Ronaldo only signed a new long-term contract last September, with the new deal running until 2018.

“I’ll be here five more years,” he said at the time. “I just want to win trophies for this club.

“I will be honest with you – everyone knows I was in Manchester for six years, but Manchester is in the past. Now my club is Real Madrid. This is my home, my family is here and I’m really happy here.”

His stance has changed in recent months, however, largely due to the club’s transfer policy, and in particular the summer sales of Angel Di Maria, whom he tried to keep at the club until the very last minute, and Xabi Alonso.

And Ronaldo is now eyeing an emotional return to Old Trafford.

“Cristiano talks about United all the time,” a source close to the player told Goal. “The club had a difficult time last season, but he expects them to return to the top very soon. He is seduced by the idea of finishing his career at Old Trafford. He has great memories – it was his happiest time as a footballer.”

Ronaldo broke ranks to criticise the departures of Di Maria and Alonso last month, fuelling the belief all is not well with the Portuguese.

“I have an opinion and it’s very clear,” he said. “I can’t always say what I want, but if I were in charge [at Madrid], I wouldn’t have done things the way they were done…”

He later rectified the remarks on Twitter and said he was “100 per cent behind my president”, but that statement was put out at the request of the club and Florentino Perez.

Mesut Ozil departed for Arsenal in similar circumstances to Di Maria last year and although Madrid went on to enjoy a successful season, Ronaldo feels the club could have achieved more during his time in Spain, believing the current policy for signing players has restricted Madrid both at home and in Europe.

Since moving from United for a record €94m deal in 2009, the forward has won one Liga title, two Copas del Rey, one Spanish Supercopa, one Champions League title and a Uefa Super Cup.

He is eager to add December’s Club World Cup to that tally and remains hopeful the club can compete for the top titles this term following their shaky start to the current campaign.

However, he has had to work extremely hard for recognition in Spain and was even jeered by Madrid fans during the Jose Mourinho era.

At United, he joined as a teenager and developed as a player in more of a family environment, experiencing a greater connection with the fans and enjoying himself in a more relaxed atmosphere.

The Portuguese looks back on those years as the happiest of his career and also retains strong ties at the Premier League club, where he won nine trophies as part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo has fulfilled a dream in playing for Madrid and is now keen to be remembered as the greatest player in the club’s history.

“Cristiano loves Madrid and always dreamed of playing for Real,” the source said. “Now he wants to go down in history as their greatest-ever player. And he can do that by scoring more goals than anyone else – and in fewer games as well.”

With 257 goals in 252 games for Los Blancos, Ronaldo is already within sight of the club’s all-time top goalscorer: Raul.

The former Spain striker netted 323 times for the Spanish side and at his current rate, Ronaldo will overtake his former team-mate early in 2015-16.

Madrid would be unwilling to part with their prized asset before then anyway, meaning a deal could be struck for the Portuguese to potentially return to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 – at the age of 31.

By Ben Hayward