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| Ronaldo celebrating in front of the fans. |
It was a day to remember for all the Manchester United fans on Sept 11, 2021 as their homeboy, idol and long-gone main man, Cristiano Ronaldo made a spectacular return by scoring two goals on his second debut for the team that was responsible for the latter's resounding success in modern day football.
Boy oh boy. What a time to be alive. First, it was Messi who made a sensational move to PSG, and now Ronaldo.
Old Trafford has always been home for Ronaldo, and quite frankly, last night's performance was just a glimpse of what the 36-year-old can still do to inflict pain on the opponent team.
Although in late 30s, he is a living proof that age is just a number. A man with such dedication, commitment and desire, it was no surprise to see him pull of a decent performance against the Magpies.
Last night, it was the Red Devils against Newcastle United, but the atmosphere in the stadium gave a different feeling.
It felt as though United were playing Liverpool in a Champions League Final. The response was staggering and fever-pitch!
What a way to mark your second debut, that too at the Stratford End, bagging a brace and sealing it with his iconic SIUUUUUU celebration!
It was never in my wildest dreams that I thought Ronaldo would make a return to the Premier League, but it happened. What a fitting way for him now to retire at the club that defined him as a world-class player.
Starring as a United player once again after over a decade, Ronaldo was no stranger at the dressing room and when he walked out of the tunnel to a stunning reception by the fans.
There were rumours and speculations of the next club he would head to after announcing his exit from Italian giants, Juventus.
Having previously played in the Portuguese, English and Spanish league, the lad had a rather unconvincing spell at Juventus, which clearly could have sparked his interest to leave the club.
Before United, Manchester City entered the frame and the once Redman was tipped for a move to the opposite side of Manchester, but City showed least interest and of course, it would have been a crime to see Ronaldo in a blue jersey than a red one.
As the saying goes, 'once a red, always a red'. Now, that's a fitting scenario to describe CR7's return to United.
Sources claimed that Alex Ferguson, the man who played an incredibly important role in Ronaldo's footballing career, once again entered the scene to influence the Portuguese star to move to the top-flight English club.
The return of the King forced Manchester United to make several changes, starting with the immediate sale of Daniel James to Leeds United, allowing Edinson Cavani to take over his shirt number (21).
This was solely done to hand over the famous number 7 jersey to the man who made all the difference while wearing it many years ago.
Many United greats in the past have held the number 7, such as George Best, Eric Cantona and David Beckham.
Among these greats, Ronaldo's return has undoubtedly scripted another milestone in his impressive portfolio, as he becomes the first player in a United shirt to wear the number 7 jersey for the second time.
We've seen many top class players who have played alongside or against Ronaldo in the past. To name a few, Zinedine Zidane (when Portugal and France met during international games), Andre Pirlo (when Ronaldo was at Real Madrid) and even Solksjaer (when both played together at United).
Guess what. These three former players have or are now coaching teams, while Ronaldo, with tank full of energy, is still kicking ass on the field.
His longevity is simply insane!
Although his first goal for the Devils after returning was rather a simple tap in, his second was a quick reminder of the pace and clinical finishing he still possesses.
That burst on the left following a pitch perfect pass from Luke Shaw was wrapped up in a goal more similar of his style, driving it hard pass in between the keeper's legs.
As much as I am a Ronaldo fan, I have fears too. This is because if he moves at this ferocious momentum for the rest of the season, it's bad news for the immediate competitors in the league, including Liverpool.
Can't wait for the day when Ronaldo will meet our tower of defence in Virgil Van Dijk. That will be some game to watch.
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