Cristiano Ronaldo is a Manchester United player again, barring an official announcement. The Portugal international has returned from Juventus to drag the club out of the dark ages. And fans are waiting to see what shirt number he’ll wear during his second spell at Old Trafford.
On Friday morning, Ronaldo looked destined to join Manchester City.
The Juventus star had been offered to Pep Guardiola’s side after they missed out on Harry Kane, who is now destined to stay at Tottenham.
But then United got involved. And, after phone calls from Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, he opted to move back to Old Trafford instead.
It was reported by talkSPORT on Monday that the Red Devils were now planning an official announcement for Ronaldo after his return.
And it’s feasible they’ll announce his shirt number, too.
At the moment, there’s some mystery hanging over that.
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Cristiano Ronaldo wore No 7 when he first joined Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
But after a spat with Wayne Rooney in 2006, he then returned to the club as a completely different player.
Ronaldo fired United to title glory the following year, ending Chelsea’s dominance in the process after they’d won the Premier League twice under Jose Mourinho.
And he also landed them the Champions League trophy in 2008 before leaving for Real Madrid the following year.
Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, meanwhile, believes Ronaldo’s arrival makes United serious contenders to win the Premier League.
"That effect he has in that dressing room, you won't get that if you don't have senior pros and they've got the ultimate,” he said.
Cristiano Ronaldo will play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
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“He comes into the dressing room, training will be different, attitudes will be different.
"I don't know if he's vocal or not, but he will pull a face if someone doesn't do something professional.
"When it's coming from him, that's enough. He's got a seventh sense, he's on another planet and I see him making the difference for them.
“What an opportunity to be in the same dressing room... 'Who can argue I'm the best that's ever kicked a ball?'"
Ronaldo is expected to make his second United debut when they lock horns with Newcastle on September 11.