The January transfer window hasn’t always been the busiest of times for Manchester United, but they know a fair bit about a deadline day swoop. This year, Michael Carrick’s team are pushing for European qualification with no distractions in other competitions and will need to decide whether to do any last-minute business. That’s something they’ve already done right at the end of summer windows. This season their down-to-the-wire move saw Senne Lammens move to Old Trafford and make room for Andre Onana to leave on loan, but back in the summer of 2021 there was an even higher-profile deal completed in the last knockings of the window.
At the time, Ronaldo was still fondly remembered by United fans from his first spell at the club. The highlight of that stint came in the 2007/08 season, when he scored 42 goals in all competitions as the Red Devils won the Premier League and Champions League.
The intervening 12 years had mostly been spent at Real Madrid, where he won four more Champions League titles and four more Ballon d’Or trophies to add to the one he earned with United. His three years at Juventus were less decorated when it came to silverware won, but 101 goals suggested he still had plenty to offer at the top.
Ronaldo was 36 years old at the time but that was mitigated by the cost of the deal, with United more than happy to bring him home and stop him signing for rivals Manchester City. A price tag in the region of £13million, coupled with hefty wages of £385,000 per week, made for a total package of £38million for the Premier League club.
Plenty of fans let their emotions over the move trump any fears at the financial outlay. Ronaldo shirts sold in huge numbers and fans shared their excitement at the emotional homecoming.
“Manchester United is a club that has always had a special place in my heart, and I have been overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since the announcement on Friday,” Ronaldo said in his first interview after returning.
“I cannot wait to play at Old Trafford in front of a full stadium and see all the fans again. I’m looking forward to joining up with the team after the international games, and I hope we have a very successful season ahead.”
Sadly for player and club, the excitement wouldn’t last long. There were positives in the first season with Ronaldo finishing as United’s top scorer with 18 league goals, but Solskjaer was sacked just months into the campaign and interim boss Ralf Rangnick failed to secure Champions League qualification.
Erik ten Hag took over as permanent boss in the summer of 2022 and it soon became clear Ronaldo was no longer an automatic starter. He played just 520 league minutes before a mid-season break for the winter World Cup in Qatar and caused a storm when he left midway through the season after criticising the club in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
Things clearly didn’t end how Ronaldo and the fans would have wanted. However, they’ll always have the adrenaline rush of those few days when the dreams of a Ronaldo return became a reality.