CELEBRITY
CRISTIANO RONALDO IS READY TO REJOIN MAN UNITED
Manchester United have recently made contact with Cristiano Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes over a sensational Old Trafford return, according to reports. Here’s why the transfer could happen
Cristiano Ronaldo has long been linked with a move back to Manchester United. But it seems that ahead of this summer rumours are stronger than they have ever been.
Ronaldo joined Man United back in 2003 and spent six seasons at Old Trafford, winning the Ballon d’Or, three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
He left Man United for Real Madrid in 2009 where he continued to win trophies, before putting pen to paper with Juventus in 2018.
According to recent reports from Italy, Manchester United have made contact with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes over a sensational Old Trafford return.
Here we look at five reasons why the transfer could happen.
Trouble in paradise
When Ronaldo signed for Juventus it was with a view to winning the Champions League with a third club.
The Old Lady reached the final in 2017 but were beaten by Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.
There was the feeling that one special signing could make all the difference, and Ronaldo was to be that man – the player to clinch the European crown.
But things haven’t worked out for Juventus or Ronaldo during his two seasons at the club, with Juventus reaching only the last-16 in the past two seasons.
As a result, Ronaldo is said to be growing tired of the failings in Turin and looking for an escape route this summer despite having a year left on his Juventus contract.
Man United can afford him
Ronaldo wouldn’t command a huge transfer fee these days.
After all, the Portuguese is now 36 years old and has just one year left on his contract in Italy.
But his wages would be astronomical – a reported £520,000-a-week – meaning there are only a few clubs who could afford him.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was recently asked whether Los Blancos are considering bringing the forward back to the Bernabeu for one last hurrah.
But Perez ruled out a transfer taking place.
He told El Chiringuito: “Cristiano Ronaldo will not come back to Real Madrid. It does not make sense, he has a contract with Juventus. I love him a lot, he has given us a lot.”
This leaves Ronaldo with limited options unless he chooses to leave the continent for a team in Asia or America.
United could just about stretch to add the Portuguese to their wage bill, but reports in Italy suggest they may not have to break the bank, with claims Ronaldo would be willing to take a pay cut.
A new frontman is needed
Manchester United have some brilliant strikers in Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Anthony Martial.
But the trio are still relatively young and have benefitted immensely from having the experienced head of Edinson Cavani in the Old Trafford dressing room this season.
The Uruguayan has showcased his excellence week-in, week-out since joining United on a free from Paris Saint-Germain, with his movement in the box praised after every game.
Having him around is getting the best from all the attacking players at the club, but his dad has suggested he will be leaving at the end of the season after only one year at United.
Cavani’s father claims he’s unhappy at Old Trafford and will more than likely be moving home to South America to conclude his career with a team in Argentina.
Should this happen, a huge hole will appear in United’s attack, and Ronaldo would be the perfect candidate to fill it.
When the Portuguese played for United first time round he was a winger, but in recent years he has morphed into the perfect centre-forward – the ultimate fox in the box.
His experience would continue Cavani’s work at United, and help get the best out of Greenwood and co. for the future.
Super League apology
Manchester United owners The Glazers upset fans this week when it was announced that the club would be signing up for the European Super League.
The controversial decision was met with unanimous backlash from fans, who demanded the Red Devils U-turn on their decision.
United eventually bowed to the pressure and 48 hours after the announcement confirmed that they would be backing out.
Joel Glazer issued an apology to supporters in response.
Fans are pleased with the club’s decision to back out of the Super League, but they’re not happy it was something that was agreed upon in the first place – especially as supporters were not made aware in advance.
It’s going to be a long time if ever before the relationship between The Glazers and the fans is healed, and the owners may feel signing Ronaldo could go some way to making it up to the supporters.
Written in the stars
Ronaldo has continually dropped hints over the years that he’d like to one day return to United.
It would be the ultimate fairytale and one that the Portuguese would seemingly be only too happy to write.
In 2014, Ronaldo admitted he couldn’t rule out returning to Old Trafford one day, saying: “Some players I am still in contact with because when I was there I created a good relationship with everybody, not just the players, all the staff around.
“And it was like my second family there too, so I’ll not forget that the people treat me well. I’ll not forget. I love Manchester, to be back, I never know, you never know.
“Of course I’m happy at Real Madrid, it’s my home, it’s my club but Manchester treat me unbelievable so we never know.”
https://get-latest.convrse.media/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fnews%2F5-reasons-cristiano-ronaldo-ready-23968557&cre=bottom&cip=60&view=web In a different interview in the same year, he added: “I love Manchester. Everyone knows that. Manchester is in my heart. The supporters are amazing and I wish I can come back one day.”
Three years later in 2017, Ronaldo announced: “Nothing is impossible,” when asked about a possible return.
Around the same time, he also praised United fans for not booing him, unlike Real Madrid’s supporters.
“I don’t like it and it’s not normal that they whistle you in your own stadium. I just don’t like it,” said Ronaldo. “It’s not correct. And when you are on a difficult run that is when you need extra support from outside not less. Sometimes we don’t have it.
“I spent a lot of years at Manchester United and it never happened to me. Not even once. Maybe England is a case apart – the mentality is different.”
-Mirror
The legacy of Brazilian football legend Pelé has taken a new turn after Neymar Santos Sr, father of Brazil star Neymar Jr, confirmed the acquisition of the commercial rights to Pelé’s name and image through his agency, NR Sports.
Speaking at the Pelé Museum in Santos, Brazil, Neymar Sr said the deal marks a new chapter for one of the most iconic brands in global sport.
“We are proud. I think it’s a very strong brand. We want to strengthen its identity and adapt it to the current era,” he said, describing the project as deeply emotional and nationally significant.
Although financial details were not officially disclosed, Brazilian media estimate the acquisition at around $18 million. The rights had previously belonged to US-based company Sport 10, which many in Brazil accused of underdeveloping a national treasure.
A ‘Repatriation’ of Pelé’s Legacy
NR Sports described the agreement as a “repatriation” of Pelé’s brand—bringing back to Brazil “one of the greatest symbols in the history of world sport.”
Pelé’s daughter, Flavia, attended the announcement and welcomed the move, saying the family had tried—and failed—to reacquire the rights after Pelé’s death in 2022.
“There are no words to describe the emotion of bringing back a brand that embodies soul, humanity, and love. It’s priceless,” she told AFP.
The unveiling was accompanied by an emotional tribute at the Pelé Museum, which erected a massive green screen with Pelé’s iconic logo. A video shared on Pelé’s and NR Sports’ official accounts celebrated the “universal language” of Brazilian football, showing some of the King’s most memorable goals from his World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
Neymar Jr: ‘Pelé Was Born to Change Everything’
Neymar Jr, who recently returned to Pelé’s former club Santos and has surpassed the King as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, featured in a promotional video congratulating his father’s company.
“Some are born to play, others are born to change the game. Pelé was born to change everything,” the 33-year-old forward said. “Pelé never stopped being one of us, and now he is officially part of Brazil, again and forever.”
A New Era for an Underused Global Brand
For years, Pelé’s image rights were more prominently exploited abroad than at home—a situation that drew criticism from the family and Brazilian football circles. The new deal is expected to revitalise the Pelé brand through modern marketing, partnerships, and heritage initiatives anchored in Brazil.
“This is the beginning of a motivating project for us. We are very moved,” Neymar Sr added.
Pelé, who died in December 2022 at age 82, remains an enduring symbol in Santos, São Paulo state, where he played from 1956 to 1974 and where thousands still visit his mausoleum.
With the rights now back in Brazilian hands, NR Sports says the goal is clear: preserve, expand, and enrich the legacy of the King of Football for generations to come.
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Lionel Messi expressed his wish to one day return to Barcelona’s Camp Nou on Monday, having made a brief visit to see the newly revamped stadium where he spent 21 years of his illustrious career.
The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who joined Barca’s youth academy at age 13 and went on to become the club’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the Catalan side in 2021 when they could not make it financially viable to keep him.
Having won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups with Barca, Messi now plays for Inter Miami after two years with Paris St Germain.
Barca reopened the Camp Nou on Friday, 895 days after its closure, unveiling a revamped stadium by staging an open training session attended by 21,795 fans.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner wrote on Instagram on Monday.
“I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami in October, and has previously said that the Major League Soccer club would likely be his last.
“You’re always welcome at your home, Leo,” Barca posted on X.
-Reuters
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Argentina has paid a powerful tribute to its greatest football icon, Diego Armando Maradona, by unveiling a special commemorative silver coin celebrating both the late legend’s 65th birthday and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coin, released on October 30 — the date that would have marked Maradona’s 65th birthday — honours his unforgettable solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup, often described as “the goal of the century.”
The Central Bank of Argentina announced that the limited-edition coin features a football motif on one side, while the reverse captures Maradona’s legendary dribble from his own half, past five English defenders, before coolly slotting the ball home in Mexico City.
That match, etched in global memory, also produced another of football’s most talked-about moments — the “Hand of God” goal, scored just minutes earlier. Together, those two goals defined not only a game but an era, as Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, their second in history.
“This coin immortalizes a symbol of Argentine pride — a goal that transcended sport to become a moment of national identity,” said the Central Bank in a statement.
The release is also timed to build excitement ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — marking 40 years since Maradona’s most celebrated tournament.
Maradona, who passed away in 2020, remains one of football’s most revered figures. His blend of artistry, audacity, and passion continues to inspire generations of players and fans alike.
Across Argentina, tributes poured in from fans, clubs, and former teammates, with many visiting murals, statues, and shrines dedicated to the No.10. In Buenos Aires, street musicians played “Live is Life” — the anthem that once accompanied Maradona’s famous pre-match warm-up routine at Napoli — as a reminder of his enduring magic.
For Argentina, this special-edition coin is more than a collector’s item; it is a national homage to an eternal legend, a man whose left foot and spirit still define the heartbeat of Argentine football.
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