CRISTIANO RONALDO WILL make his second Manchester United debut on Saturday.
Boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed today that the 36 year old will play some part in the Premier League clash against Newcastle.
Speaking to the media ahead of the clash, Solskjaer said: “He’s had a good week with us here.
“He’ll definitely be on the pitch at some point, that’s for sure.”
Solskjaer would not be drawn as to whether the Portugal star would start the game at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo is ready to feature having had a pre-season with Juventus and also having played the full game for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Ireland last week.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been training at United since Tuesday.
Solskjaer said he expects Ronaldo to play at the top level until he is 40 years old, like another United great in Ryan Giggs.
BETTING SPECIAL GET RONALDO TO SCORE AGAINST NEWCASTLE ANYTIME AT 30/1 OR FIRST AT 50/1
In this summer’s most sensational of transfers, Ronaldo made an emotional return to Old Trafford, signing a two year deal with the option of a third.
United managed to get the prolific striker for just £12m.
Solskjaer has promised Manchester United fans an even better Ronaldo than they had before.
The gaffer says he still has the same speed but has become a better all round player and one of the best finishers ever.
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
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Solskjaer said: “He has evolved as a player. I don’t think you’ll see 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.
“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.”
FRED IN AWE
And he has already left his team-mates stunned by his fitness levels at the club’s Carrington training centre.
Midfielder Fred was asked if the 36-year-old looks sharp in training to which he replied: “Of course, yeah!
“He is an amazing player, you know the difference when you look at Cristiano Ronaldo.
“With the ball, without the ball, he works a lot and it’s so good for us. We are so happy to have Cristiano here.
“We know who Cristiano Ronaldo is because he likes to win, he pushes everyone, so you need to be at your best to get with him.
“It’s so good for us because he pushes everyone, we can win every game, so it’s so important.”
He become a fan favourite during a six-year stint at the club in which he won the Premier League three times, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup twice and the Fifa Club World Cup.
He scored 118 goals in 292 games before leaving in 2009 to join Real Madrid for £80million.
He spent nine seasons in Spain before moving to Juventus in Italy in 2018.
Ronaldo — dubbed CR7 — has already told of his happiness at reclaiming the club’s No 7 shirt and declared: “I’m really glad and looking forward to starting my first game.”
Illustration by Lovatto
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
