Manchester United fans have very fond memories of Cristiano Ronaldo
The club will always hold a special place in Ronaldo’s heart, just as he will always be fondly remembered by the fans. His 42 goal season in 2007/08 fired United to a league and Champions League double, and his development under Sir Alex Ferguson over his six year spell saw him transform from a skinny teenager into a physically dominant goal machine.
Since he left in 2009, there have been constant murmurings of a potential return to Old Trafford, more out of desperate hope than anything, but he has only ever returned once, while playing for Real Madrid in 2012/13. Tonight will be his second time back at Old Trafford as his new club Juventus take on United in the Champions League group stage.
The last time he went back, Real Madrid won a thrilling game 2-1, as Ronaldo and Luka Modrić scored goals to cancel out Sergio Ramos’ early own goal, with the help of a sending off for United winger Nani.
Ronaldo of course did not celebrate – such is his respect for the club who gave him a platform to become one of the best players in the world, ever. And the respect is reciprocated, as demonstrated by Sir Alex Ferguson’s unusual request on the night.
You’ve been to football matches, you’ll know the drill: the stadium announcer always reads out the away team’s line up first, saving the home team until last in order to get the biggest cheers and try to drum up an atmosphere.
On the night in March 2013, Ferguson asked for this order to be reversed, so that United fans in the ground could give Ronaldo the welcome he deserved.
“This was all the design of Sir Alex Ferguson, whose instructions on how Ronaldo’s return were to be handled were spelled out in the days leading up to the Champions League knock-out tie,” according to the Independent.
It is unlikely that José Mourinho will make the same request tonight, given United’s need for a win over The Old Lady.
