Cristiano Ronaldo agrees Manchester United return

Ronaldo has agreed a sensational €25m deal to return to Manchester United 12 years after leaving for Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)

Cristiano Ronaldo has agreed a sensational €25m deal to return to Manchester United on a day of high intrigue around his transfer from Juventus.

The 36-year-old Portuguese international returned to the club he left in July 2009 on a two-year contract after a transfer that was eventually concluded in a fashion every bit as quick as it was unexpected.

At the start of the day, it appeared that rivals Manchester City was Ronaldo’s most likely destination after it became obvious that he was set to leave the Serie A club.

But in early afternoon, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer mischievously suggested that his club might be about to hijack his proposed move to their neighbours.

And by 5pm, Ronaldo had flown from Turin to Porto, where he will undergo the formality of a medical for his new employers, and United had announced on their social media that the legendary forward had re-signed.

It marks a disappointing blow for Pep Guardiola who has also missed out on Tottenham striker Harry Kane this summer after they refused to negotiate with City.

But for Solskjaer and United, the signing caps a remarkable summer in which they have also landed Jadon Sancho, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate Raphael Varane, and managed to keep French World Cup winner Paul Pogba at the club.

It is understood that Ronaldo’s former manager and mentor Alex Ferguson was influential in talking his former protege into returning to the club where he won three league titles and the 2008 Champions League, among a host of honours.

And his Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes also played a pivotal role in talking his friend and colleague into joining him in Manchester.

“I didn’t think Cristiano was going to turn out leaving Juventus and it’s been speculation this morning, speculation the last few days of course,” said Solskjaer just after lunchtime when asked if United were trying to muscle into the signing.

“So we’ve always had good communication (with Ronaldo). I know Bruno’s been talking to him as well. He knows what we feel about him and if he was ever going to move away from Juventus, he knows that we’re here.

“Cristiano’s has been a legend of this club, he is a legend of this club. He’s the greatest player of all time, if you ask me.

“I was fortunate to play with him, I coached him when I got my job. Such a tremendous human being as well so let’s see what happens with Cristiano. Everyone who has played with him has a soft spot for him.” 

Moments after Solskjaer’s hint that United were in the hunt for their former star, Guardiola had admitted that the move was “far away”. Ultimately, the fact City were not prepared to pay the fee Juventus were demanding and, by that stage, not only Ferguson and Bruno but also Ronaldo’s former teammate Rio Ferdinand had been in contact with the star to convince him to return.

But, regardless, Guardiola took the opportunity to laud Ronaldo, and his former Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

“Cristiano will decide where he wants to play, not Manchester City, not myself,” said Guardiola around 2pm.

“All I can say is we are incredibly fortunate to see and enjoy the best two players in the last 20-30 years.

“For what these two guys have done in world football we can only say thank you. The Argentinian and Portuguese guy were amazing in every single season in different clubs, Messi just with Barcelona, now in France.

“So what they have done... I don’t think we will watch anything quite similar in the future and yeah That’s all.” 

Sources close to the deal have indicated that United’s late entry into talks with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes instantly changed the landscape with the player unwilling to sign for another English club.

Talks are on-going over personal terms but it is believed that a deal of around £480,000 (€560,000) has been agreed in principle.

It is understood that United players were unhappy during training this morning that they were about to lose out on one of their club’s legends who appeared poised to move across the city.

But by the end of the morning, the mood had changed and United were rapidly arranging the transfer. The formalities will all take place in Portugal, where Ronaldo is on international duty next week, to avoid issues around quarantine.

He could be available to make his debut - more than 18 years after his first - against Newcastle on September 11.