Cristiano Ronaldo is back at Manchester United! The news that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be returning to the Premier League and Old Trafford was met with worldwide applause by Manchester United fans all over the world.
Even sweeter than welcoming home the 36-year-old Portuguese superstar was being able to snub Manchester City who was rumored to have struck a deal with Cristiano Ronaldo, but City eventually pulled out of the deal due to the costs of the transfer and after Ronaldo was persuaded by former Manchester United teammates to rethink his move to United’s biggest rivals.
Cristiano Ronaldo played at Manchester United for six seasons in his first stint and won various titles, so why at the height of all that success did Ronaldo leave Manchester United? We have the answer.
Why did Cristiano Ronaldo leave Manchester United the first time?
Cristino Ronaldo takes on Ashley Cole and Jose Antonio Reyes during the FA Barclays Premiership match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on October 24, 2004 in Manchester, England. (Getty)
The reason is as clear as day during CR7 atomic rise as one of the world’s best soccer players at Manchester United, Real Madrid just could not pass up on Cristiano Ronaldo who by then had won three Premier League titles, 1 Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, and 1 FA Cup with the Red Devils. Real Madrid signed CR7 before the 2009/2010 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo was seen as the ultimate piece of the Real Madrid puzzle to stop a rising Lionel Messi and Barcelona team. In a recent interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo revealed, “I just thought in my mind I want to go there to show my level. I wanted to show that I’m a different player and that’s what I did. I arrived and I had a fantastic first season and then I have improved every season.”
Cristiano Ronaldo was sold for a world record €94 million transfer fee and the transfer was given the blessing of Sir Alex Ferguson who knew it was what Ronaldo wanted. Now all of that is ancient history as Ronaldo is now back at Manchester United!
