We know that Cristiano Ronaldo will take the field for Manchester United on Saturday against Newcastle United. We just don’t know if it will be off the bench or in the starting lineup.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that Ronaldo will make his first appearance for the Red Devils since joining the club on a $28 million transfer from Juventus prior to the close of the summer transfer window. The event marks his grand return to the club where he became a global star from 2003-2009.
The match will be broadcast at 10 a.m. ET in two langauges in the United States on USA Network (English) and Universo (Spanish). Both NBCUniversal channels are streamed on fuboTV, which is available to new users on a free 7-day trial.
Ronaldo’s last match in a Manchester United shirt was the UEFA Champions League final in 2009 (2-0 loss against FC Barcelona), but his last match as a Man United player at Old Trafford was a celebratory one after the club clinched the 2008-2009 Premier League title at home against Arsenal in May 2009. Those matches preceded a transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid and a move to Juventus years later.
WATCH: Manchester United vs. Newcastle on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009 as a swashbuckling winger, who could beat opposing players with ease. He returns as an expert goal-scoring center forward, who still reguarly produces 20-plus goals per season at age 36. He recently showed it by setting the international goal record for a male player with his two goals for Portugal to beat the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup qualifier.
How to watch Chirtiano Ronaldo’s debut in the USA
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 11
- Time: 10 a.m. ET
- TV channel: USA Network
- Spanish-language TV: Universo
- Streaming: fuboTV
The English Premier League rights in the USA are held by NBCUniversal, which broadcasts matches in English and Spanish across its network of channels.
The 10 a.m. Saturday start time for Manchester United vs. Newcastle United will see it air on USA Network and Universo. Both channels are available on fuboTV, which offers a free seven-day trial to new users.
Manchester United vs. Newcastle: Projected lineups
The expectation is that Ronaldo starts the match on the bench with Edinson Cavani in the starting XI at center forward. Jadon Sancho was a doubt with a knock picked up while with England, but Solskjaer confirmed he was good to go.
MORE: Why Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus for Man United
Scott McTominay and Alex Telles are not expected to be ready for selection just yet, and Marcus Rashford is still out due to shoulder surgery. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is making his way back from the after-effects of COVID-19, but he got the start for the Under-23s along with Phil Jones .
Manchester United projected lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): 1-David de Gea-GK — 23-Luke Shaw, 5-Harry Maguire, 19-Raphael Varane, 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka — 17-Fred, 6-Paul Pogba — 25-Jadon Sancho, 18-Bruno Fernandes, 11-Mason Greenwood — 21-Edinson Cavani
Manchester United projected subs (9): 22-Tom Heaton-GK, 2-Victor Lindelof, 20-Diogo Dalot, 31-Nemanja Matic, 34-Donny Van de Beek, 14-Jesse Lingard, 8-Juan Mata, 9-Anthony Martial, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo
What number will Ronaldo wear?
If you’re watching the game, you’ll see Ronaldo donning the same number he did when he last played with Manchester United: the No. 7.
Another player had the number when Ronaldo arrived, but he gave it up to the superstar: Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani wore the No. 7 jersey since joining Manchester United in 2020, but he left it to Ronaldo and took up the No. 21 shirt instead, which he also wears with Uruguay.
When Ronaldo departed Old Trafford he picked up the same number with Real Madrid and Juventus to keep up his ‘CR7’ brand.
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