"Cristiano Ronaldo" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Jan S0L0
Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho didn’t always see eye-to-eye at Real Madrid but the Portuguese duo could team up in what would be an incredible move ahead of the 2016/17 campaign. Mourinho has been appointed as the new Manchester United manager and the 53-year-old will be looking to lead the Red Devils back to the top of the Premier League. Unfortunately for United, they haven’t even come close to winning the title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
While the Portugal star has already ruled out leaving Madrid this summer, a deal could be agreed if United throw enough money at the Spanish giants. In addition, Real may still be interested in negotiating a move for United goalkeeper David de Gea and a swap deal of some form isn’t out of the picture. This may be wishful thinking on the part of United fans but some supporters believe that a Ronaldo homecoming this summer isn’t beyond the realms of possibility just yet.
Realistically, Ronaldo isn’t going anywhere but Old Trafford would be one of his favoured landing points if he did decide to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in the near future. The Portugal captain enjoyed plenty of success during his six-year stint in Manchester and supporters would almost certainly have him back in an instant. Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for United and he will forever be regarded as a fan favourite at Old Trafford – whether he returns or not.
Let's be honest: why would Ronaldo leave Real Madrid? Los Blancos have one of the best sides in European football and they regularly challenge Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for La Liga’s title. Meanwhile, United are failing to inspire confidence and even missed out on Champions League football next season – a key reason why Ronaldo may stay at the Bernabeu. You can keep up with the latest transfer news and La liga betting information at Bet365's website. Looking ahead to next season, Real are likely to be one of the leading contenders in their La Liga betting markets, especially if Zidane is handed the job on a permanent basis.
Ronaldo has a strong affinity for Manchester United but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he wants to move back to Old Trafford. It would be interesting to see if Ronaldo can still cope with the pace and demands of the Premier League, especially after spending the past seven years in La Liga. On current form, Ronaldo is still one of the best footballers on the planet and he would more than hold his own in United’s starting line-up. Just imagine him playing alongside the likes of Anthony Martial and Zlatan Ibrahimovic upfront? Frightening.
Neutrals would love to see Ronaldo back in the Premier League but unfortunately, it looks like he will stay at Real Madrid for the time being. The Portugal captain will go down in history as one of Real’s greatest players of all-time and he will be desperate to cement his place as a Madrid hero. While he may return to Old Trafford in some capacity in the future, the 31-year- old is firmly focused on Spain and helping Real to win titles.
