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Cristiano Ronaldo has brought ‘intense’ edge to Man Utd training defender reveals
Manchester United signed Cristiano Ronaldo for a second time last month.
Ronaldo confident ahead of his Old Trafford return: I am here to win
Cristiano Ronaldo has brought an ‘intense’ edge to training after returning to Manchester United from Juventus this summer. The Portugal international linked up with his new team-mates earlier this week.
Man Utd host Newcastle United on Saturday as they look to build on their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have picked up seven points from their opening three games courtesy of victories over Leeds United and Wolves and a draw at Southampton.
The United boss had a productive summer in the transfer market and was able to persuade Ronaldo to put pen to paper last month after already securing the services of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane.
Ronaldo will be hoping to go straight into the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash and, according to defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, training has intensified since Ronaldo stepped foot in the building.
"It's a good feeling," Wan-Bissaka said earlier this week. "Someone with so much experience and achievements to come into the training ground and to train with him - that's a big privilege.
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"It's intense but it's for the right reasons. Everyone wants to fight and push themselves to the max.
"We can learn a lot as a team - that's what every player needs."
Ronaldo originally joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and went on to spend six successful years at the club.
During his first spell in Manchester, Ronaldo helped his side to three consecutive Premier League titles between 2007 and 2009.
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The 36-year-old was also instrumental as Man Utd lifted the Champions League trophy that very season and was recognised for his contribution by winning the Ballon d’Or at the end of the calendar year.
Ronaldo went on to sign for Real Madrid, where he won another four Champions League titles and four more Ballon d’Ors.
Real sold the forward to Juventus in 2018, where he won two Serie A titles.
Meanwhile, United midfielder Fred has also been quick to laud Ronaldo with plaudits.
"It's so good training with Cristiano,” Fred said. “He is a very good guy - the best player you know about.
"We are so happy to have Cristiano here with us, and I hope he can bring us any titles at Manchester United.
“He is an amazing player - you know the difference when you look at Cristiano Ronaldo.
"With the ball, without the ball, he works a lot and it's so good for us. We are so happy to have Cristiano here.
"We know who Cristiano Ronaldo is because he likes to win. He pushes everyone so you need to be at your best to get with him.
"It's so good for us because he pushes everyone. We can win every game, so it's so important."