Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-touted return to Manchester United will take place in two years time, according to a leading Spanish journalist.
Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer expert who works for Sky Sports, has now revealed that Ronaldo’s move back to England won’t happen this summer as had long been predicted. Instead, Real Madrid, will wait until the Portuguese forward has turned 31, and is on the brink of turning 32, to cash in on his prestigious talents.
“People want this to happen in January if possible. It’s not going to happen. In the summer? I don’t think it’s going to happen. Real Madrid have got no intention whatsoever of selling Cristiano Ronaldo next summer.”
Balague noted that in around 18 months time, Madrid will probably conclude that they’ve got the best out of their prized asset, and it would be worth their while to sell him back to Manchester United. Ronaldo is adamant that he wants to return to Old Trafford, but it’s now becoming obvious that he’ll have to be a little bit patient as he waits for his dream transfer.
“In two years time I would say yes, that is possibly the time when he will be 31 going on 32, for Real Madrid to say: ‘OK, if we can cash in on him, brilliant. He has done a lot for us, but that’s it, time to move on. I don’t think it’s going to happen this summer. People will have to be a little bit more patient.”
However, will United still be keen on Ronaldo in two years time? In a strange way, yes. There are currently several defensive and midfield areas that the Red Devils need to address, and if United were to make an outlandish bid for Ronaldo in either January, the summer or next January’s transfer window, some of the club’s fans will be annoyed that they didn’t purchase players in the positions that they require.
Now Louis Van Gaal can make the necessary additions that will genuinely improve his squad, before then pursuing Ronaldo in the summer of 2015. Especially since by that point Robin Van Persie will be 33 going on 34, and United will probably need to improve in that area. United fans are pining to see the Portuguese icon return to their club, and if he did arrive back at Old Trafford, it would be a real show of intent that they were back to the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
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