CRISTIANO RONALDO fever swept across Manchester on Saturday afternoon as thousands of Red Devils fans arrived at Old Trafford more than two hours early to see the legend return.
United face Newcastle at 3pm and the nearby area was swarming with supporters with ‘Ronaldo 7’ on the backs of their shirts.
The Portugal captain is starting against the Magpies. And fans thought as much after his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez dropped a huge hint on social media.
That will delight the thousands of Ronnie fans pictured near the stadium ahead of the game.
Friends and family were pictured with Ronaldo shirts as early as midday as some donned face masks.
Small children could be seen on their parents’ shoulders as the excitement built ahead of the game.
Several supporters held aloft Ronaldo scarfs alongside their 2021-22 replica United shirts.
And large groups were seen hovering outside the players’ entrance hoping to get a glimpse of their hero ahead of his emotional return to the Old Trafford pitch.
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In the build up, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer promised Red Devils fans an even better player than before despite him being 36-years-old.
The goal machine has not played for United since May 2009 but his new boss says he still has the same speed but has become a better all round player and one of the best finishers ever.
Solskjaer said: “He has evolved as a player. I don’t think you’ll see those 18,19, 20 step-overs before he goes past you but he still has them, the step-over, shift and shoot.
“He has developed into one of the most accurate finishers I have seen.
“What he developed in his years at Real Madrid has impressed us all.
“He is one of the best of course in the air, his timing and desire to get on the end of crosses is second to non.
“He still hits the target 99 times out of 100 when he shoots from outside the box as well.
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“He knows the game more, definitely, he knows which positions to drop into and when to run in behind and he is still as quick it looks like from the stats.
“He’s in such good nick still and will be looking in the next few years to play and score as many goals as he can.
“We don’t have his skill set in the team, the mix, no one has really. He is one of the best players that’s ever played the game.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
