CRISTIANO RONALDO is preparing for his first match for Manchester United at Old Trafford in over 12 years.
The 36-year-old could make his second debut against Newcastle on Saturday following his arrival from Juventus last month.
Ronaldo is the only player yet to retire from the Red Devils team that last faced the Magpies during his first stint at the club.
The Euro 2016 winner’s last outing at the Theatre of Dreams came on May 16, 2009, against Arsenal.
United were crowned as Premier League champions following the goalless draw in what was to be Ronaldo’s last trophy for his beloved side.
He started in the Champions League final against Barcelona later that month, with the Spanish side winning 2-0.
But 12 years after departing United for Real Madrid, Ronaldo is back and gunning for titles as he looks to feature this weekend.
And his team-mates from that last game at Old Trafford may well be watching on in what is the biggest game in town.
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Legendary Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar started between the sticks against the Gunners in the club’s penultimate top-flight game of the 2008-09 campaign.
John O’Shea – who scored in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal in 2009 – slotted in at right-back.
Patric Evra was deployed on the other side, with a centre-back pairing consisting of Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans.
Ronaldo featured on the right wing, with Sir Alex Ferguson opting to start Welsh icon Ryan Giggs down the left.
In the middle of the park were Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick, with Paul Scholes and Anderson left on the bench.
Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez were tasked with leading the line against the North London outfit at the expense of Dimitar Berbatov.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
