“He wants to make Manchester United great” – Cristiano Ronaldo’s plan to return to Old Trafford for a third time revealed!
Training not on the Portuguese star’s agenda after retirement
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, a player for the Saudi club Al-Nassr, is planning a return to Old Trafford, the home of his former team, Manchester United, in a different way than his previous two spells at the English club.
As his former teammate, England international Danny Simpson, said in an exclusive interview, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to “make Manchester United great again” and may return for a third time with the Red Devils once he retires and explores a move into managerial positions.
No sign of Ronaldo retiring anytime soon
There are no signs that Cristiano Ronaldo will retire anytime soon, with the signing of a new two-year contract with Saudi Professional League side Al-Nassr.
This contract will take the “eternally young” striker beyond his 42nd birthday. If he feels he still has the game left, his incredible record-breaking career could extend well beyond that point.
However, the day will come when Ronaldo, like all legends and former stars, will announce his retirement, and speculation about his next move has already begun.
There have been questions about whether the legendary star might want to move into coaching, given the pressures of the job. There are hints that he may be interested in owning sports institutions, along with a behind-the-scenes role that would allow him to be more involved in the day-to-day running of a football club.
Ronaldo’s Possible Return to Manchester United
If Ronaldo follows this path, it could be an opportunity to enjoy a new encounter with Manchester United, the club that made him a star and introduced him to world football, winning his first Champions League title and the Ballon d’Or, before moving on to the most important step of his career with Real Madrid.
In stark contrast, Ronaldo’s second spell with the Red Devils ended in controversial circumstances when his contract was terminated by mutual consent. The “Don” then made his bold move to the Saudi League.
When asked if Ronaldo wanted to put things right at Old Trafford, Simpson told Goal: “I wouldn’t say no. If you look at his mentality, it’s clear he cares about the club. I think he would say that because he wants to come back, but in a different way.”
He added: “I don’t think he liked the way he left, so he wants to come back and make United great again, at some level of decision-making.”
Simpson continued: “The commercial aspects are very different, of course, but he’s also a businessman. You can’t underestimate the team he has around him. I would love him to come back to United because I think he has a lot to offer, even in that aspect of the game in the future. Just his mentality and everything he does, he achieves. That’s what United need.”
What role could Ronaldo play at Old Trafford?
Several former United stars have spoken about what the future could hold for Ronaldo at Manchester United. Wes Brown said: “You never know what Ronaldo wants, but you can’t doubt him after everything he’s achieved.”
He added: “I think first of all, it depends on how he performs in Saudi Arabia, because it’s not clear he’ll retire anytime soon – he’s still scoring goals for Al-Nassr. But he could certainly move into the boardroom. He has the potential to step away from coaching and move to an executive level. Why not? If he enjoys it, it would be perfect for him.”
Quinton Forchon continued: “Could Cristiano Ronaldo be a coach? I think he can achieve anything he sets his mind to. We’ve seen it firsthand during his career. At Manchester United, I can see him as part of the owners. He’s done amazing things in football and also financially. Anything is possible because he loves the club. And the club still loves him with the amazing memories he created there. If he gets an opportunity behind the scenes, I think he’ll jump at it.”
