The agent of Cristiano Ronaldo claims the Portugal international will never return to Manchester United.
Having joined the Reds in the summer of 2003 for a fee of £12.6million, the forward was given the famous number 7 shirt and, by the time he left six years later, had played a key role in winning three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Champions League. His form convinced Real Madrid to smash the world transfer record to take him in 2009, when they paid United a stunning £80million for his signature.
Ronaldo’s progress whilst in Spain has been nothing short of remarkable. The 29-year-old played a vital part in their 2011-12 La Liga success, as well as helping win two Copa del Rey’s and, most significantly of all, their tenth Champions League last term. From an individual perspective, he has scored a staggering 190 goals in just 171 league matches, and is now just 54 behind Raul’s record of 323 goals in all competitions.
Although the 29-year-old, the current Ballon d’Or holder, signed a new contract last year to keep him at the Bernabeu until 2018, he has constantly been linked with an emotional return to United, a club he holds no secret of his love for. However, his agent has now dismissed such a possibility, claiming the forward is likely to end his career at Real.
“Cristiano is very happy in Madrid,” Jorge Mendes told El Partido de las 12. “He’ll go on to beat all club records and he will retire there. He could play on until he is 40. He respects the Manchester United supporters who remember him, but there have been no offers because people know it’s impossible to take Cristiano out of Real Madrid.”
Despite the recent additions of Angel di Maria and, albeit on loan, Radamel Falcao, many United supporters are eager to see Ronaldo return. Indeed, one group recently arranged and paid for a banner to be flown over El Madrigal, the home of Villarreal, when Real were playing, pleading for the Portuguese star to return to his former club.
Will this end the speculation, or do United fans still think Ronaldo might return one day? Let us know your thoughts by joining the discussion below.
