Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester United in €20 million deal

The 2021 summer transfer window continues to throw up surprises, and in the latest stunning development, Cristiano Ronaldo re-joins Manchester United after they reached an agreement with Juventus to sign the five-time Ballon D’Or winner. Manchester City were heavily linked with signing the Portuguese superstar, but in a dramatic turn of events on Friday, Ronaldo chose to return to Old Trafford in a deal worth a reported €20 million, plus €3 million in add ons.

The 36-year-old returns to Old Trafford 12 years after moving to Real Madrid for a world record £80 million fee in 2009 and has signed a two-year contract with the club till 2023.

Manchester United confirmed Ronaldo’s homecoming in an official statement that read: 

“Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.

“Cristiano, a five-time Ballon D’Or winner, has so far won over 30 major trophies during his career, including five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship for his native Portugal.

In his first spell for Manchester United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games. Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester.”

Ronaldo also posted a farewell message for Juventus on his Instagram that stated “Today I depart from an amazing club, the biggest in Italy and surely one of the biggest in all of Europe. I gave my heart and soul for Juventus and I’ll always love the city of Turin until my final days. The “tifosi bianconeri” always respected me and I tried to thank that respect by fighting for them in every game, every season, every competition.

“In the end, we can all look back and realize that we achieved great things, not all that we wanted, but still, we wrote a pretty beautiful story together. I will always be one of you. You are now part of my history, as I feel that I’m part of yours. Italy, Juve, Turin, tifosi bianconeri, you’ll always be in my heart.”

It is believed that Ronaldo’s Portugal team-mate Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who played with Ronaldo in his first spell at the club – were heavily involved in convincing the 36-year-old to return to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo joins Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho as summer arrivals for Manchester United, making Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side one of the favourites to win the league title alongside reigning champions Manchester City and European Champions Chelsea.