Cristiano Ronaldo Prepares for First Home Match at Old Trafford in a Dozen Years
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SBI Soccer
2 Yrs Ago
A dozen years after he bid farewell to the home fans at Old Trafford by planting a kiss on the English Premier League trophy in his last home match as a member of Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to take the field in his trademark number 7 short for the Red Devils once again on Saturday.
The Portuguese legend is set to make his first appearance for Manchester United since his storybook transfer return on Saturday against Newcastle United, and even though he is likely to be limited to a substitute’s appearance due to his recent international duty, Ronaldo is poised for a hero’s welcome.
One thing Ronaldo wants to make clear about his looming second act with the Red Devils is that he is back to do what he did in his first run with Manchester United, win trophies.
“This is why I am here,” Ronaldo said in an interview with the club website. “I am not here for a vacation. As I told you, before was good, winning important things and I wore the shirt before many years ago, but I am here to win again.
“I am capable, me and my team-mates. I am ready to go, I am ready to go. It is a good chance for me, for the supporters, for the club, to get one step ahead. “I am ready and I think I will be a huge thing in the next three or four years.”
Ronaldo has already cleared one hurdle in painting the perfect storybook return. He has been granted permission to wear the same number seven jersey he wore back when he helped lead Manchester United to three English Premier League titles and a Champions League title, having received a special dispensation from the Premier League to take the number from Edinson Cavani, who has agreed to let Ronaldo have it after starting the season with it.
“I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to have the number seven shirt again,” Ronaldo said. “I would like to say a huge thank you to Edi for this incredible gesture.”
Ronaldo’s last match as a Manchester United player was in the 2009 Champions League final, which the Red Devils lost to Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Soon after that defeat, Ronaldo secured his famous move to Real Madrid, where he went on to win four Champions league titles.
Twelve years later, Ronaldo has returned to Old Trafford and found a Manchester United side with title aspirations after the recent acquisitions of Raphael Varane and Jaden Sancho. The current squad still has some work to do to be considered the equal of some of the great teams of Ronaldo’s first stint at Old Trafford, but having the Portuguese star back to lead the attack could help both Ronaldo and Manchester United add a few more honors to their already-impressive title collections.
"Before was good, winning important things and I wore the shirt before, many years ago,” Ronaldo said. “But I am here to win again.”