CELEBRITY
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer breaks silence on Man Utd agreeing Cristiano Ronaldo transfer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Cristiano Ronaldo to give everyone at Manchester United a “buzz” after agreeing a sensational return.
Paperwork needs to be completed before the move can be officially announced, but the Portuguese star is returning to Old Trafford after 12 years away.
Ronaldo left in 2009 for a then world record fee after helping United win numerous league titles and the Champions League, whilst also winning his first Ballon d’Or.
He made it clear to Juventus he wanted to leave and the 36-year-old will join Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane as summer recruits.
Ronaldo’s return has created a real energy on the red half of Manchester and Solskjaer couldn’t speak highly enough of his new recruit.
“Of course the fans have been excited for the last couple of days, we all are of course,” he told the club’s website.
“He has had such a great career and he has been here before. Hopefully we can just finalise the paperwork and announce it. He is going to give everybody a boost, of course.
“I played with him, he’s a great player, he is a top human being, he is a top professional, so he will give everybody in the squad and everybody around the club a buzz.”
Ronaldo is set to make his second debut for the Red Devils against Newcastle on September 11.
United star Luke Shaw admitted the transfer has given the squad a new energy.
He said: “I feel like it’s given the club a massive lift, not just inside but also outside. Obviously it’s a big positive. He’s been one of the best players in the world for a number of years now.
“Everyone is excited for him to come in and not just learn from him but to be able to play with him too.”
Ronaldo has set new standards for goalscoring, breaking record after record.
At Juventus and Real Madrid he has continued to win silverware, but former United man turned pundit Gary Neville doesn’t believe Solskjaer’s side will deliver the title.
“No one can complain at Manchester United about the players they’ve signed this summer,” he said on Sky Sports.
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo crossed one billion followers across his social media accounts, aided by his newly-launched YouTube channel that has attracted more than 60 million subscribers in just over three weeks.
Ronaldo, who scored his 900th career goal last week to help Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League, is the first human being to reach a billion followers on social media, global media reports said.
“We’ve made history, one billion followers! This is more than just a number, it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” Ronaldo posted on X.
“You’ve been with me every step of the way, through all the highs and the lows. This journey is our journey… thank you for believing in me, for your support, and for being part of my life.”
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid player reached the milestone with over 639 million followers on Instagram, 170 million on Facebook and 113 million on X.
The 39-year-old topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes this year, with off-field earnings of $60 million, boosted by his large social media following.
Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr will host Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.
-Reuters
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of subscribers signed up within a couple of hours.
The 39-year-old five-times Ballon D’Or winner plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
“The wait is over. My @YouTube channel is finally here! SIUUUbscribe and join me on this new journey,” Ronaldo posted on his social media accounts.
A couple of hours after posting his first video, 1.69M subscribers had joined he channel.
Ronaldo has 112.5 million followers on the X platform, 170 million on Facebook and 636 million on Instagram.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United player is preparing for his team’s Saudi Pro League opener against Al-Raed on Thursday.
-Reuters
Inter Miami will be the last club Argentina captain Lionel Messi plays for, the 36-year-old forward said on Wednesday, adding he feels “a little bit scared” at the thought of the day he decides to retire.
Messi, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, has a contract with the Major League Soccer side until 2025 following his arrival last summer after a spell with French champions Paris St Germain.
“Inter Miami will be my last club. I love playing football. I enjoy everything even more because I am aware that there is less and less left,” Messi told ESPN.
“I’m not ready to leave football. I’ve done this all my life, I love playing football, I enjoy training, the day-to-day, the matches… And yes, there’s always a little bit of fear that it’s all over.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is preparing with his national team to defend their Copa America title, with the tournament kicking off on June 20 in the United States.
Argentina will take on Canada in the opening match before facing Group A rivals Chile on June 25 and Peru four days later.
-Reuters
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