GARY NEVILLE has told Manchester United fans to expect a ‘different’ Cristiano Ronaldo after the forward dramatically rejoined the club.
Up until midday today, the football world was expecting Ronaldo to join United’s fierce rivals Manchester City.
But the tide turned after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s press conference where he opened the door for a return and confirmed that Bruno Fernandes had been speaking to his countryman.
City then seemingly dropped out of the race and United became frontrunners.
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Ronaldo hopped on a flight from Turin to Lisbon and within an hour of him touching down in his home country, his fairytale return to United was confirmed.
Some United fans even filmed themselves burning old Ronaldo Man Utd shirts when a move to City looked inevitable.
But luckily he’ll be playing in their brand spanking new home shirt this season so they’ll have to dig deep into their pockets for a new one.
Neville, who has been calling for his former club to go big in the summer window, was over the moon with the news of Ronaldo’s return.
But he warned it will be a ‘different’ Ronaldo who will have ‘ legs in and around him’ for support.
A jubilant Neville told Sky Sports: “He’ll play regularly (Ronaldo), he’ll play as a No9.
“He’ll play as a centre forward, I’m sure they’ll put legs in and around him, he will score goals.
“And Cristiano Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, win personal accolades, set the Premier League on fire – it is a different Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone expected that.
“But he is a No9, he’s a centre forward, he’s someone who to be fair still has those bursts of speed over short spaces that will cause problems, he makes great runs inside the box, he has anticipation of where the ball’s going to drop.
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“So in terms of what he gives to Manchester United, it just gives them something that at this moment in time they need.
“I said the other day I thought Manchester United should be in for Harry Kane if he’s available, they should be in for Haaland, these types of players.
“For Manchester United to get above Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, they’re going to have to do something big.
“And this could give them a temporary shot in the arm that would potentially get them right up there this year.
“I was a little bit fearful watching Chelsea last Sunday, knowing that City are going to be strong, Liverpool have got Van Dijk back, that Manchester United could actually improve but finish in a lesser position in the league.
He’ll play as a centre forward, I’m sure they’ll put legs in and around him, he will score goals.
Gary Neville
“But this news gives me more hope that Manchester United could have a great season, and what it does give every United fan is a great feeling because this is one most special players that has ever lived, that’s ever played the game of football.
“Forget Manchester United, forget you know – this is one of the greats of all time and we’re seeing him in the Premier League so it makes the Premier League so much more exciting this season.”
Neville also says the move feels nostalgic, but warns it ‘doesn’t always work in football’.
The United legend believes nostalgia ‘kicks you sometimes’ and can be counterproductive.
He said: “Look, a little bit nostalgic and nostalgia doesn’t always work in football, it sometimes kicks you sometimes when you don’t expect it.
“But this is – you know, the idea of him going to Manchester City was torture for Manchester United fans.”
But looking at Ronaldo’s goal record, the 36-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down as he scored 36 goals across all competitions last season.
Ronaldo’s homecoming game could be against Newcastle on September 11.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
