Now the buzz is really hyping up big time as the latest scoop has it that La Liga juggernauts Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a sensational swoop to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the fold from Old Trafford to the Santiago Bernabeu for a second tenure.
Ronaldo has undoubtedly been the performer ahead by a long country mile in United’s dismal season, scoring 23 goals – 17 in the Premier League – despite being compromised on the pitch by lesser teammates of an obviously lower ilk and caliber.
The 37-year-old Portuguese star’s future at Old Trafford is being compromised – after just one season back at the club he had left for Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £80million in 2009 – being in the company of much lesser football luminaries reportedly with attitude problems both on and off the pitch as it has been alleged that the atmosphere in the dressing room has been labeled toxic.
The Mirror reports Real are warming up to the thought of reuniting with the player, who is under contract at United until next season with the option for another year.
United are set to undergo major changes under new manager Erik ten Hag, and it is thought Ronaldo is uncertain about the role he might play in the planned revolution at Old Trafford.
The Portugal dynamo and captain has been the indubitable mainstay of the grossly-underperforming squad under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, but incoming Ajax manager and head coach Erik Ten Hag is said to be planning for a future with a youthful side weaned on high energy – which means CR7’s playing time may well be limited.
However, so far Ten Hag, who will join from Ajax at the end of the season, has not yet made any decisions on Ronaldo.
As it stands, Real could be the most viable option to offer Ronaldo a way out of United, who look most likely to fail to qualify for the Champions League next season, should he finally opt to leave Old Trafford again.
Real could be looking to Ronaldo as their back-up plan if they fail to sign long-term target Kylian Mbappe, who they missed out on in the 2021 summer window despite tabling a huge £172million for the French star.