Manchester United fans have dreamed about Cristiano Ronaldo’s return for years. On Friday the dream finally came true.
It still feels a little surreal. United fans entered the day feeling gloomy, amid reports Ronaldo was set to sign for City.
This was a truly nightmare scenario. Ronaldo in a City shirt was unthinkable, hard to stomach just the thought of it.
Living through it would have been utterly miserable. City fans knew it, and would have lorded it over us.
It would have been the type of deal to make United fans fall out of love with football, with a club icon seduced by the money of one of the game’s oil-powered giants.
United saved Ronaldo from himself
Thankfully United came through, thanks to a charm offensive led by Sir Alex Ferguson, Bruno Fernandes and Rio Ferdinand.
It was like the Earth was under threat and Manchester United’s Avengers teamed up to save the day.
Ronaldo chose Red over Blue. He chose the romance of a return to United over the riches of City.
This was the type of transfer deal to make United fans fall back in love with football again.
If you want to talk stats and figures, where Ronaldo fits in, what this move means for other players, whether the funds should have been used elsewhere, sure, there is a case to talk about all of that.
Leave the non-United fans to chat to themselves about the move and debate and criticise it to their hearts content.
For United fans there really was only one play here: Get the Ronaldo deal done.
It’s really happened
This was an emotion stirring deal which brought tears to the eyes of United supporters. The club’s prodigal son is coming home.
Fans wondering what to do with old replica Ronaldo jerseys which have sat in cupboards for a decade were suddenly wearing them again, while dipping into unprompted chants of Viva Ronaldo.
The star’s return to United will be emotional. Seeing him back in Red at Old Trafford is going to be amazing.
Will Ronaldo bring success? We hope so. But it is not the be all and end all. Just his presence is enthralling.
These emotions are what football is all about, and socking it to City in the process was an added bonus. You can’t buy love.
If Ronaldo does lead United to trophies after years without silverware, it will become one of the greatest deals of all time. But honestly, it feels like that already.
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