Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to make sensational Man Utd return by former teammate as Al Nassr ‘ignore’ star’s Zinedine Zidane plea
Cristiano Ronaldo is being considered for a remarkable return to Manchester United for a third time.
The 39-year-old left the club in 2022 amid controversy following a public disagreement with manager Erik ten Hag.
Since then, he has played in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr.
His contract with the Saudi club is set to run until 2025.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has stated his ambition to keep playing until he scores 1,000 career goals. A former teammate believes that if United were to reach out, he might find it difficult to say no.
Wes Brown recently commented, “You can never rule out Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United in some capacity. We were all let down when he left the second time because he was one of United’s greatest players, and the way it ended was disappointing. A return could be a chance to rectify that.”
He added that during Ronaldo’s first season back, he netted over 20 goals. “His departure seemed excessive, but I’d love for him to come back in some form.”
Recently, Ronaldo has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with United after their eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Al-Nassr recently dismissed manager Luis Castro, and the veteran striker is hopeful that a coaching reunion could be on the horizon.
It is believed that Ronaldo proposed bringing in former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, but the club quickly dismissed that idea.Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential return to Manchester United for a third time would indeed be a sensational move, given the history and the circumstances of his departure in 2022. After a high-profile exit following tensions with manager Erik ten Hag, Ronaldo has since been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where his contract runs until 2025. However, reports suggest that a return to Manchester United might still be a possibility, despite his criticism of the club’s recent performance, including their eighth-place finish last season.
Former teammate Wes Brown has speculated that Ronaldo could be open to a return, highlighting how disappointing his previous exit was, especially considering his impressive goal-scoring form during his first season back, where he netted over 20 goals. Brown believes a third stint at United could help mend the relationship between the club and one of its greatest players.
However, Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction extends beyond Manchester United. At Al-Nassr, he has reportedly clashed with club management, particularly following the dismissal of manager Luis Castro. Ronaldo is believed to have advocated for the hiring of Zinedine Zidane, his former Real Madrid manager, but this idea was quickly rejected by the club.
Whether United will consider bringing Ronaldo back remains to be seen, but his legendary status and his desire to continue playing at a high level make any speculation about his future noteworthy.
