Ronaldo Return the Talk of Manchester

In a summer packed full of sensational transfers, Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United may just be the most eye-catching of the lot but, at 36, can he still deliver on the biggest stage?

Ronaldo opted to depart Juventus at the end of last month in favour of a return to Old Trafford, 12 years after originally leaving the Red Devils to join Real Madrid.

Shirt sales for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner have already reached record levels and Ronaldo fever will surely reach its peak when he makes his expected second debut for the club against Newcastle on Saturday.

It is hard to foresee the Portugal star being anything other than a hit for United both on and off the pitch, but will his arrival be to the benefit of everyone and can he continue to produce at the highest level as he enters the twilight of his career?

Ronaldo Guarantees Goals

Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to have graced the game of football, scoring a staggering 674 goals in 895 club appearances, including 118 strikes during his first stint with United.

The Portuguese has also shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to finding the back of the net, as he finished last season as the top marksman in Serie A, while his two goals for Portugal during this month’s international break saw him become the leading men’s international goalscorer of all time.

Those goals have contributed to Ronaldo lifting a staggering 33 trophies at club level, as well as helping Portugal to glory at both Euro 2016 and the inaugural UEFA Nations League three years later.

With United having not won any silverware in four years, Ronaldo, with his goalscoring and love for winning trophies, appears the perfect player to spearhead a successful season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, who are priced at 11/2 to win the Premier League.

Adapting Has Been Key to Ronaldo’s Longevity

United are not signing the same Ronaldo they bought from Sporting Lisbon as a teenager in 2003, who was a box of tricks with undoubted talent, but perhaps not always the required end product.

It will not even be the same Ronaldo that left the club in 2009, or the one we saw possessing countess pace and power during the early part of his time with Real Madrid.

No, what Ronaldo has managed to do is adapt his game as he has got older, turning himself into an out-and-out centre-forward who knows when to conserve energy and when to get into top gear.

The ability to recreate himself and continue to deliver at the highest level has arguably not been seen before and while you are not likely to spot Ronaldo tracking his man back deep into his defensive third, he is still the one to rely on when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net, which may make him a tempting option at 5/1 to finish the season as the Premier League’s top scorer.

Youngsters Can Learn off Ronaldo, But at What Cost?

What better player for United’s youngsters to learn off than Ronaldo, who has won nearly everything there is to win in the game, while his professionalism and dedication has allowed him to keep performing at the highest level.

However, United have a wealth of talented young forwards, with Mason Greenwood having started the season in fantastic form, while Jadon Sancho arrived from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer and Marcus Rashford is closing in on a return to full fitness.

That trio have proven they can deliver for United, but with Ronaldo almost certain to start when fit, it could be their playing time that suffers most.

It will certainly be a balancing act for Solskjaer, as for all the short-term gains United will surely get from Ronaldo, they do not want that to be at the cost of their exciting young talents, who may seek moves elsewhere if their progress is disrupted by the returning CR7.

*All odds correct at time of writing

Ronaldo Guarantees Goals

Adapting Has Been Key to Ronaldo’s Longevity

Youngsters Can Learn off Ronaldo, But at What Cost?

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