Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Madrid tonight when Manchester United resume their Champions League campaign.
During his time with Real Madrid, Ronaldo frequently tormented Diego Simeone’s side and now he faces them with United in tonight’s last 16 tie.
Another former Real star in the shape of Raphael Varane will also return to the city he left just last summer to move to Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick has spoken to the club website ahead of the game about the pair going back to Spain and the prospect of Ronaldo getting a hostile reception.
When asked if Ronaldo and Varane were excited for the game, Rangnick said: “Yes but this is also true of the rest of the team.
“Obviously, for the two of them, it’s coming back to the place they used to play, the city they played for a long time.”
When it was put to the German that Ronaldo would get a hostile atmosphere, he replied: “We will see. Again, he’s got enough experience. He’s used to this sort of hostile atmosphere in his career so it shouldn’t impress him a lot.
“Again, for us, it’s about how we perform as a team. He cannot do it on his own. We have to perform on a high level as a team, like we did against Leeds, knowing the quality of Atletico is high.”
Ronaldo has relished dragging United through this season’s Champions League and he will embrace the pressure of performing in a tough atmosphere tonight.
David de Gea at the other end may also be in for an interesting reception from the home fans, on his first return to the club since leaving 11 years ago.
But – and Varane falls into this category as well – they are big game players with huge experience and a determination to win the biggest trophies.
That experience could be invaluable tonight as United look to escape a tricky away trip with a result to take to Old Trafford for the second leg.
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