Premier League
How Man Utd pulled off shock Ronaldo transfer
By the time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sat down for what can sometimes be a chaotic media Zoom call at 13:15 BST on Friday afternoon, the Manchester United manager already knew Cristiano Ronaldo would be returning to Old Trafford.
Despite widespread speculation Ronaldo was set to join Manchester City, United officials were reasonably confident on Thursday night that momentum around the five-time Ballon D’Or winner returning to the Premier League was shifting away from Etihad Stadium and four miles across Manchester to Old Trafford.
The final push came the following morning, when former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson got involved.
The bond between Ferguson and Ronaldo is strong. Ronaldo still referred to the Scot as ‘The Boss’ long after his exit for Real Madrid in 2009. Ferguson implored Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford, knowing he will be feted as a hero. The alternative would be to tarnish a reputation that, if anything, has grown even bigger as United struggled to recapture former glories since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Ferguson’s words followed up encouraging messages from Ronaldo’s former team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra. Another former team-mate and current United technical director Darren Fletcher was mentioned to BBC Sport as also being part of an orchestrated charm offensive, which also involved Ronaldo’s Portugal team-mate Bruno Fernandes.
By the time Solskjaer spoke to the media, Juventus coach Max Allegri had already told the world Ronaldo was leaving the club. The deal, in effect, was sealed.
As is his way, Solskjaer did not want to give anything away until it was absolutely watertight. Three times he swerved questions about Ronaldo before the man from the Telegraph had one final go.
Why, he asked, if one of the greatest players in the world was available, would Manchester United not at least try to sign him?
Solskjaer peered into the camera and gave just enough away for those who already had an inkling for what was happening – and for some that was on Thursday – to be certain it would come true, even if the rest of the world did not grasp its true significance.
“I didn’t think Cristiano would leave Juventus,” said Solskjaer. “There has been speculation.
“We have always had a good communication. I know Bruno has been talking to him as well. He knows what we feel about him. If he was ever going to move away from Juventus, he knows we are here.”
By that point, a formal offer of €15m, with an additional €8m in add-ons, was being presented to Juventus. Just over three hours later, United confirmed an agreement to re-sign Ronaldo had been reached.
United step out of the shadows
Along with Gareth Bale, Ronaldo was viewed as one of the stellar targets United wanted to ease them into the post-Ferguson era in 2013.
Rumours of an Old Trafford return have ebbed and flowed, usually around contract negotiations, down the years but it has never looked particularly likely the player who spent six years at United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals in 292 appearances, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League, would eventually come back.
United kept tabs on Ronaldo’s turbulent club situation at Juventus throughout the summer. Juve have been wrestling with major financial problems and are still at war with Uefa over the doomed Super League project that United, along with the other five English clubs, quickly abandoned.
The line of communication with the player’s long-time agent Jorge Mendes remained open. But as rumours about Ronaldo potentially joining Paris St-Germain began to surface, as Solskjaer said, United remained in the background. They felt it was still more likely Ronaldo would see out the final year of his contract in Turin.
Their antenna was only properly raised when Manchester City got involved.
Depending on who you speak to, by Thursday night, City were either thinking of doing a deal or claiming it had already been done. Well-placed sources veer more towards the Blues being interested but not completely certain how to make a deal work, as it needed them to sell someone, which in this summer’s transfer market has not proved to be straightforward.
It is only then United moved into gear and made their pitch.
Why now?
While elite football clubs do not have to justify their transfer decisions, many choose to.
For United, Ronaldo’s return is a reconnection with the club’s glorious semi-recent past. If one club legend was tasked with a ‘cultural reboot’ when Solskjaer was appointed as Jose Mourinho’s replacement, initially on a temporary basis, in December 2019, there could be no greater example of what United once was than Ronaldo.
In three seasons between 2006-07 and 2008-09, the Portuguese littered the club with moments of pure genius.
But this transfer is about the present.
United are not alone in thinking, even at 36, Ronaldo retains many of the attributes that have led to him being viewed, along with Lionel Messi, as one of the greatest players of all-time. Last season he eclipsed Romelu Lukaku as Italy’s Golden Boot winner thanks to his 29 goals.
Ronaldo’s legendary fitness and professionalism are seen as evidence of him fully deserving of the two-year contract he will receive from United – and will be confirmed when the transfer itself is completed at some point before Tuesday’s 23:00 BST deadline.
United think Ronaldo fits with their stated aim of fusing together world class signings with talented youngsters. They still feel their squad is one of the youngest in the Premier League.
In addition, they see the deal – together with the signings of Rafael Varane and Jadon Sancho – as proof United are still capable of attracting the very best players; that outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward can complete the biggest transfers and that star names are happy to play for Solskjaer, mocked as a PE teacher by some cruel critics.
The Cavani question
In addition to the economic impact of the Covid pandemic, which has cost them £150m in non-recoverable income, United are also mindful of the ongoing effect coronavirus is continuing to have.
The club has first-hand experience of this already in the current campaign after goalkeeper Dean Henderson was badly affected after contracting it.
But it has the potential to impact the club in other ways too.
Amid the ongoing issue over player availability for next month’s World Cup qualifiers, United striker Edinson Cavani has seemed to question the blanket Premier League decision to deny players the opportunity to represent their country, if it involves them having to quarantine for 10 days on their return to England.
United have already made it clear they are not interested in selling Cavani or cancelling the contract Solskjaer persuaded the 34-year-old to sign in May.
However, Ronaldo’s arrival does offer them some additional flexibility in how sympathetically they deal with a player for whom representing his country is of major importance.
It may not provide an answer to the thorny question of what number Ronaldo will wear – even if Cavani was willing to hand over his number seven shirt, Premier League rules prevent a mid-season swap except in the most extreme circumstances – but it may help relations with a player whose time in England was scarred by the three-match ban for a social media post deemed to be discriminatory by the Football Association.
The planned homecoming
It is anticipated Ronaldo will have his medical in Portugal before linking up with his country for two World Cup qualifiers, the last of which is in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, 7 September.
In theory, that should make him available for his second United debut, against Newcastle, the following Saturday in a game that has not been selected for live TV coverage but will almost certainly be the BBC Radio 5 Live commentary choice.
The last time Ronaldo played against Newcastle for Manchester United at Old Trafford, he scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win, underlining the reason why, almost completely, fans reacted to news of his return with overwhelming joy.
The true success of the 36-year-old’s return can only be measured by what happens on the pitch – but if any guide is taken from the response to the final outcome of a most amazing day, Manchester United’s purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo is a sure-fire winner.
-BBC
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire struck a late header to seal a thrilling 2–1 Premier League victory over Liverpool on Sunday, ending their nine-year drought without a win at Anfield and dealing a blow to the reigning champions’ title chase.
Liverpool, who have lost four consecutive games across all competitions for the first time since November 2014, dropped to fourth in the table on 15 points, four behind leaders Arsenal.
United, who won back-to-back league games for the first time since manager Ruben Amorim was appointed last November, climbed to ninth with 13 points.
United’s Bryan Mbeumo stunned the home crowd with a goal a minute after kickoff when Amad Diallo pushed forward before flicking a ball for the forward to run onto and fire home from inside the box.
Irate Liverpool fans thought play should have been stopped before the goal with Alexis Mac Allister down clutching his head after a collision with teammate Virgil Van Dijk.
SQUANDERED CHANCES
Cody Gakpo hit the post three times before finally scoring the equaliser in the 78th minute, when he tapped in Federico Chiesa’s cross.
But Maguire sent United fans into a frenzy with the winner in the 84th when Bruno Fernandes floated the ball in for the big defender to outjump Ibrahima Konate and power home a header.
“It means everything,” Maguire told Sky Sports.
“They’ve had the better of us over the last few years and it’s not been good for our club and we’ve have not given our fans enough days like today. It’s been a long time coming, coming to this ground and picking up three points.
“I’ve been here seven years now and to come to this ground every time and not get three points has been tough. So it’s for the fans, I hope they have a great night tonight.
There were shouts for a Liverpool penalty early on when Casemiro’s cross struck Diallo’s arm. But the VAR video referee determined Diallo’s arm was in a natural and justifiable position.
Liverpool had 19 shots to United’s 12 including several jaw-dropping near misses.
‘SLOPPY’ LIVERPOOL
Gakpo was lively all game, hitting the post twice in the first half, and then nearly making it third time lucky when he smashed another shot off the post shortly after the break.
He missed a sitter in the dying minutes, however, when he headed the ball well wide of the net.
An off-form Mohamed Salah squandered a brilliant chance in the second half when the ball fell to him unmarked at the far post, but he launched it wide, his face etched with frustration.
“I think we conceded a very sloppy second goal,” said Reds captain Virgil van Dijk. “We worked so hard to get back into the game and we created great opportunities to score the winner but if you concede a second goal like that, that is the disappointing part.
“We need to stay humble and stay working and keep our confidence as high as possible,” he added. “When things get tough, it is important we keep the mentality of being there for each other. It is a long season.”
-Reuters
Manchester United’s under-pressure coach Ruben Amorim will be given the full three years of his contract to prove himself and the club will become the most profitable in the world, co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said on Wednesday.
Amorim was Ratcliffe’s choice to replace Erik ten Hag last November but the Portuguese coach has struggled to turn around the club’s flagging fortunes, winning only 10 of his 34 Premier League matches in charge.
United endured their worst top-flight finish last season since they were relegated in 1973–74, coming 15th, and they missed out on Europe after being beaten by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
But Ratcliffe has issued his strongest statement of support for Amorim yet, comparing the situation to when Alex Ferguson struggled in the early years of his reign before becoming the greatest manager in the club’s history.
“I remember the clamouring for Alex Ferguson to be fired in his first two years,” Ratcliffe, who owns 30% of the club and controls the football side of the business, told The Times’ podcast The Business. “You look at (Mikel) Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time for the first couple of years.
“We’re results-driven at the end of the day, but we have to be patient and we have to see through the results. I think there’s lots of good things at Manchester United. We have to be patient and we have a long-term plan. It isn’t a light switch.
“Ruben needs to demonstrate that he’s a great coach over three years.”
‘WE’VE MADE ERRORS’
While the American Glazer family retain majority control of the 20-time champions of England, Ratcliffe rejected suggestions they could instruct him to sack Amorim.
“It absolutely wouldn’t happen because it’s just a good working relationship. They come to the board meetings. We sit down and we talk about things,” Ratcliffe said.
“We’ve made errors. There’s absolutely no question that we’ve made errors as we’ve gone along and we’ve talked about it. But no one’s perfect.”
Asked to confirm whether Amorim would see out his contract, Ratcliffe said: “Yes. That’s where I would be. Three years, because football’s not overnight.”
Despite United’s stock falling on the pitch, off it they recently posted record revenues of 666.5 million pounds ($892.1 million) in the year to June 2025, albeit with a 33 million pounds loss.
Amorim’s squad was boosted by more than 200 million pounds worth of new signings in the summer.
“The better your squad, the better your football should be. So a lot of what we have done in the first year is spend an awful lot of time putting the club on a sustainable, healthy footing,” Ratcliffe, who completed his acquisition of a minority stake in the club in 2024, said.
“If you look at our results for last year we have the highest revenues ever. Profitability, the second highest. We’re not seeing all the benefits of the restructuring that we’ve done in this set of results, and we were not in the Champions League.
“Those numbers will get better. Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high-level of football.”
Ratcliffe also said he wants to revive the club’s Academy that once churned out the likes of multiple title winners David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
“The academy has really slipped at Manchester United,” Ratcliffe said. “You don’t solve the academy problem overnight. It takes time. We just recruited a new academy director.”
-Reuters
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Manchester United cruised to a rare comfortable home Premier League victory as goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko secured a 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.
With the pressure growing on manager Ruben Amorim after a disappointing start to the season, Mount calmed the nerves around the ground with a fine early finish to break the deadlock.
United continued to dominate, with a spectacular save from Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs preventing Bruno Fernandes from adding a sumptuous second before Sesko netted his first Old Trafford goal after 31 minutes.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty late in the first half, a decision that was overturned following a VAR intervention, but they never really threatened after the break as United eased to a third home league victory of the season.
The result put United in provisional eighth place with 10 points from seven games, two places below Sunderland on 11.
Wins, especially comfortable ones, have been in short supply for Portuguese Amorim since he took charge in November.
United supporters have slowly started to turn on the new manager as a result, with nothing short of victory over promoted Sunderland, despite the visitors’ impressive start to the season, enough to appease the disgruntled masses.
Mount’s superb control and finish was just what the beleaguered boss needed. The fine strike was the earliest United have scored in the Premier League since Marcus Rashford’s goal at Ipswich Town in Amorim’s first game in charge.
It was only a matter of time until the hosts scored again, such was their dominance. From a long throw, Sesko was alert to the flick-on before steering home his second in as many games.
United thought they had shot themselves in the foot as Sesko was penalised for a high boot in his own penalty area, only for VAR to deem it not to be a foul.
The hosts took their foot off the gas in the second half, but still should have added to their tally, with veteran Brazilian Casemiro blazing their best chance over the bar.
Sunderland did manufacture a late gilt-edged chance but Senne Lammens, making his debut in the United goal, stood tall to block, completing an assured performance from the keeper and his new teammates.
-Reuters
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