La Liga’s Real Madrid are plotting a sensational January reunion with Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Football Insider has learned. So, we must now ask the question – after returning to United, will Ronaldo also return to Real Madrid next?
Following his summer exit from Juventus (football news), the 184-times Portugal international re-joined Manchester United in August 2021 (football transfers). This is how the Old Trafford management beat Manchester City to a deal for Ronaldo at the eleventh hour.
Ronaldo then signed a two-year Manchester United contract that runs until the summer of 2023 and has a 12-month option.
And since, he has started 10 of United’s 12 Premier League matches upon his return to the club. Plus, while he has started five of their six Champions League games, he has managed to play in all six.
Ronaldo’s 18 matches in all competitions have yielded 12 goals – six in the Champions League – as well as two assists.
After Returning to Manchester United, Will Ronaldo Also Return to Real Madrid?
Now though, Real Madrid believe Manchester United’s appointment of Ralf Rangnick has potentially opened the door to a mid-season move.
The Spanish giants thus want Ronaldo back in the winter transfer window in January, just as United won him back.
A recruitment source has even told Football Insider that Real are closely monitoring Ronaldo’s situation going into January.
As such, the La Liga club could make a move if they receive encouragement in January from Ronaldo’s side.
Actually, there is a sense among those close to Man United that the Portugese all-time great, 36, is unsuited to the high-energy pressing game that Ralf Rangnick is looking to implement.
United’s running and sprinting stats were immediately higher in Rangnick’s first match in charge. And this quickened pace paid off as it led to last weekend’s 1-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
In this match, the interim manager, following his new system, paired Ronaldo with Marcus Rashford in a two-man strike force.
Ronaldo has already left Man United for Real Madrid once in his prolific career, in 2009, will he go again?
He had nine goal-heavy years at the Spanish giants, where he scored a remarkable 450 goals from just 438 matches.
