Sportmanchester unitedSir Alex Ferguson Cristiano Ronaldoreal madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo To Manchester United: Is He Sir Alex Ferguson's Greatest Player?

Back For Unfinished Business?
The Huffington Post UK
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Coming home?
Getty

As the Cristiano Ronaldo rumour mill runs into overdrive, as astonishing as it would be for a club servicing £307 million worth of debt to spend £85m on a player they sold for £80m, Manchester United have explored the possibility of bringing the Portuguese back to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is unlikely to cost that much. He left for £80m in 2009, is 28 and has two years left on his contract, which, as Arsenal fans will tell you, means a player's price decreases, however brilliant they may be.

Even Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement hasn't dissuaded United. As far-fetched a sight it may be to see Ronaldo receiving instructions from David Moyes, it is unlikely to be a major issue for an Iberian who actually enjoyed Manchester.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United career
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Dazzling in Lisbon on 7 August 2003...
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Signing for United on 12 August
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Smiles all round despite the Versace jumper
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"I'll be the end of you here, Ruud."
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Unveiled with fellow Portuguese speaker Kléberson. The less said about him the better...
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Thumbs up all-round after a vibrant debut against Bolton, 16 August '03
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Reeling from Radostin Kishishev's tackle at Charlton away, September '03
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Aggro with Arsenal, September '03
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The first of 118, vs Portsmouth, November '03
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A first derby goal in the Valentine's Day FA Cup win, 2004
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Sir Alex and Walter Smith look unimpressed by the braids
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A bad hair day but a good goal against Spurs, March '04
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Tormenting Clichy in the cup semi-final, April '04
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The first of four red cards at Villa Park, May '04. It was later rescinded
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Breaking the deadlock vs. Millwall in the '04 cup final
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Skinnier times
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The first of eight trophies
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Unable to crack a smile after a belated first goal of the season against Southampton, December '04
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Putting Arsenal to the sword again with the first of a brace...
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His double contributed to a superb 4-2 win for United in their penultimate game at Highbury, February '05
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A second red card at Manchester City, January 2006
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Not Ronaldo's first goal from a free-kick, but the first of his valve-specials came against Fulham, February '06
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Celebrating a second successive brace the following week at Fratton Park
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Receiving some friendly Scouse advice, February '06
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Showing off against Wigan in the League Cup final, February '06
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Trophy no.2
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No World Cup hangover as Ronaldo and Rooney run riot against Fulham on the opening day of the season in a 5-1 win, August '06
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A second free-kick against Portsmouth, November '06
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Celebrating a crucial match-winner at Fulham after a sublime solo run, February 2007
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Savouring a first Champions League goal in The 7-1 against Roma, April '07
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A scrappy opener against Milan, April '07
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Title no.1, May '07
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A third red card at Fratton Park, August '07
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Asking for forgiveness after heading in the winner at former club Sporting, September '07
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A third, and best, free-kick against Portsmouth, January 2008
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Iconically kitted out in tribute to the Busby Babes against City, February '08
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Channeling the spirit of Denis Law with a phenomenal header in Rome, April '08
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An impudently ingenious flick against Villa, April '08
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Title no.2, May '08
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Scoring in the Champions League final, May '08
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Despair
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Relief
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Glory
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Reminding Aston Villa fans who's number one, November '08
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A harsh red card and his second at Eastlands, November '08
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The infamous self-withdrawal against Sunderland, December '08
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Flanked by United's past Ballon d'Or winners Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton, with George Best there in spirit, December '08
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Heading big in Japan against Gamba Osaka, December '08
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World champion
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World Player of the Year, 2008
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A second League Cup, March '09
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Compelling even the mild-mannered Cottagers to vent their spleen, March '09
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In full flight against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final, May '09
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A third successive title, May '09
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Time to say goodbye, Rome, May '09

At £12.24m, Ronaldo is one of Ferguson's greatest buys. Meticulously scouted and signed shortly after David Beckham's departure, the Portuguese was one of European football's most exciting teenagers when he joined United in 2003.

Forget the naysayers, he performed well in his first season. The step-overs were superfluous but fun and he was instrumental in United's route to that year's FA Cup final. Man of the match at Northampton, he scored one and created one in the Valentine's Day derby against Manchester City before assisting Ruud van Nistelrooy's winner in the last eight versus Fulham. His semi-final display at Villa Park against Arsenal was outstanding and he opened the scoring in the final triumph over Millwall.

That accomplishment is but a footnote on his six-year Old Trafford CV. His goal tally rose thusly: six, nine, 12, 23, 42 and 26. The 16-goal dip came when Ronaldo didn't want to be at United, yet he still proved to be a phenomenal matchwinner.

A possible return could elevate him up the list of United greats. Ronaldo showed greater solidarity as a Real Madrid player at Old Trafford than when he wore a red shirt because he misses M16, and the adoration he receives from United supporters is unmatched by madridistas.

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