Cristiano Ronaldo’s deadline day transfer to Manchester United in 2021 sent shockwaves through the Premier League as the Red Devils welcomed back their club legend after a 12-year absence
Few signings will ever match the hype and euphoria Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United brought on transfer deadline day. In summer 2021, following the exciting new additions of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, United appeared set to suffer a blow as club legend Ronaldo looked to make a return to the Premier League.
The then-36-year-old was strongly linked with a move to neighbours Manchester City. But the Red Devils made a last-ditch intervention with Juventus and Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, while club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand phoned the player to dissuade him from joining City.
What followed was a bombshell announcement that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had apparently made a U-turn to join Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – 12 years after he left for Real Madrid and went on to become one of the greatest players of all time. For many fans, it marked the homecoming of their dreams and represented a return to the old Manchester United, which had been lost since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s massive engagement ring may have hidden meaning says luxury jewellerREAD MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo showed true colours with message to La Liga rival during furious row
Ronaldo’s sensational return cost an initial £13million, but totalled £38m when factoring in the £385,000-a-week he was paid over the next 64 weeks he spent in Manchester. Despite being a big sum for a player in his mid-30s, it still represented a salary cut on the £500,000-per-week he had received at Juve.
And, simply put, the fans didn’t care as they raced to print the Portuguese icon’s name on the back of their 2021/22 jerseys. The feel-good factor was through the roof. A swashbuckling United led by club legend Solskjaer had finished second the previous season and here they were, adding the most lethal finisher in history to their ranks.
Ronaldo said after his move was announced: “Manchester United is a club that has always had a special place in my heart, and I have been overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since the announcement on Friday.
”I cannot wait to play at Old Trafford in front of a full stadium and see all the fans again. I’m looking forward to joining up with the team after the international games, and I hope we have a very successful season ahead.”
Having initially joined the Old Trafford club in 2003, Ronaldo went from an exciting prospect to a world beater over the next six years, netting more than a century of goals for the Red Devils and contributing to United securing three Premier League crowns, plus the Champions League.
Upon his return, he was given his iconic No. 7 shirt back and scored on his second debut against Newcastle. More goals followed as he registered 24 in all competitions, but his efforts were in vain as United struggled for form and Solskjaer was sacked early on in his first season.
Ronaldo would play under two interim managers that season in Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick as he visibly grew more and more frustrated at the side’s fall from grace. Ronaldo reportedly made attempts to engineer a move elsewhere but failed to do so before the transfer window, while United refused to let him go.
Erik ten Hag’s appointment as permanent boss in the summer of 2022 presented a potential fresh start, until it became clear the Dutchman was not giving his veteran forward any preferential treatment. The Portuguese was omitted from the Manchester derby defeat to rivals Manchester City, which became a huge talking point.
Ten Hag claimed he left Ronaldo on the bench « out of respect » as United were 4-0 at half-time, though he later asked Ronaldo to come on as a substitute three minutes before the end of the victory over Tottenham, which the striker refused to do.
Ronaldo then stormed down the tunnel and out of Old Trafford before the final whistle – an incident he admitted he regretted. Ten Hag had responded to that tantrum by suspending him for one fixture before making Ronaldo captain for the next four matches.
However, Ronaldo’s mind was already made and, ahead of the 2022 World Cup, he sat down for a tell-all interview with close friend Piers Morgan on Talk TV, where he blasted both Ten Hag and predecessor Rangnick.
The forward said he had been “betrayed” by United, also claiming Ten Hag had tried to force him out of the club. United responded by terminating his contract, paving the way for his move to current club Al-Nassr in January 2023, and bringing one of the club’s biggest and most exciting signings ever’s time to a bitter end.
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Poster un Commentaire