4,507 days after playing his last game for Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo got a rousing welcome back to where he developed to be the superstar that he is today. In his initial 6 year stay at the club, the Portuguese scored 118 goals in 292 games for the Red Devils with the last of his goals coming on the 10th of May, 2009 via a freekick against Manchester City in the Manchester derby.
He came on as a sub against Bolton Wanderers in August of 2003 for his first-ever United game. He has grown from that day into a mega superstar winning a whole lot of individual and team awards. In as much as his return to United is seen as a lift to the squad, I had my worries and still do. Manchester United’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the pressure to deliver silverware heightened after the acquisition of football’s all-time best (arguably).
On his second debut for United today, amid the pomp and pageantry Ronaldo was able to lead the Red Devils to victory at a packed Old Trafford over Newcastle United. He scored a brace with fellow Portuguese Bruno Fernandes and homegrown talent Jesse Lingard amongst the goals in the 4:1 win against the Magpies.
Ronaldo will score goals no doubt and he even made 2 recoveries today (one of my worries, when he signed, was tackling when the ball was lost). United are weak in the middle (holding midfield role) and I wished this was addressed when the transfer window was open.
Glory glory Man United.
CHEERS!!!
