Cristiano Ronaldo’s second Manchester United debut could be delayed, according to reports. The Portugal international is hoping to be involved against Newcastle in their Premier League showdown on Saturday afternoon. However, while that’s the case, it seems Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be about to upset the club’s supporters by postponing things.
Ronaldo had looked primed to join Manchester City late in the summer amid uncertainty over his Juventus future.
But he ended up returning to United instead, 12 years after exiting to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
United officially confirmed Ronaldo’s return on deadline day, while then revealing a few days later the veteran would get his old No 7 back from Edinson Cavani.
Many are expecting the 36-year-old to be unleashed against Newcastle this weekend, the club he scored his only hat-trick for the Red Devils against.
Yet The Sun say Ronaldo’s second debut may be delayed because he’d have only had one day of training with his team-mates before the match.
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Ronaldo is currently isolating in his Cheshire mansion due to coronavirus rules.
He was recently on international duty with Portugal, scoring a spectacular brace as they beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 last week.
It’s claimed Solskjaer is ‘unlikely’ to start with Ronaldo for the upcoming match at Old Trafford, despite the obvious temptation.
He previously gave Raphael Varane two weeks before allowing the former Real Madrid star to make his bow, which came against Wolves.
And it’s stated that while Ronaldo could possibly make the bench, he should get the nod for his side’s Champions League clash with Young Boys in midweek.
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Ticket prices for the match are supposedly soaring, too, with some available for the huge sum of £2,500.
And whether United are able to put Newcastle to the sword remains to be seen.
Speaking after his return to United, meanwhile, Ronaldo opened up on the big role Sir Alex Ferguson has played throughout his career and his return.
“As everybody knows, since I signed for Manchester [United] at 18, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key,” he said.
“I remember when we played against Manchester when I was at Sporting Lisbon.
“For me, Sir Alex Ferguson is like a father in football for me. He helped me a lot, he taught me many things, and in my opinion of course he had a big role because the relationship that we had, we keep in touch all the time, and he’s an unbelievable person.
“I really like him a lot and he was the main key for me to be in the position that I am, that I signed for Manchester United.”
Ronaldo also claims he’s had a ‘chat’ with Solskjaer about his role.
“Well, we had a chat,” he said.
“But of course I’m going to have time to speak with him face to face, to know what he expects.
“As you know, I played with him for two or three years at Manchester United so I have a good relationship with him but now with a different role, I’m a player and he’s a coach.
“But it doesn’t matter, my relationship with him is great and as I say before, I’m there in Manchester to help the team achieve his results and the coach can count on me for whatever he wants.
“So I’m available for everything.”
Ronaldo scored 118 goals during his first spell at United.
He fired the club to three Premier League titles on the trot, as well as Champions League glory in 2008.
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