Cristiano Ronaldo: “I Love” Manchester United

Newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he considered a return Manchester United in the summer, but his former team mate Rio Ferdinand could not persuade him to make the switch from Real Madrid.

Ronaldo claimed the World Player of the year award for the second time on Monday, having previously picked up the gong in 2008 as a United player.

The next season he left for The Bernabeu in a £80 million world record deal, but has always kept United close to his heart. However, even with the affection for his former club taken into account it was not enough for Ferdinand to convince him of a move back to the Premier League.

“It was true that Rio Ferdinand spoke to me a lot to try and make me come back to United. Rio is a great friend of mine, we played many years together at Manchester United and we were neighbours when I was there. He’s a fantastic guy and tried to change my mind to go back to Manchester,” revealed Ronaldo.

“I did think about United, they are still in my heart. It’s a club where I played for six years, I love the club. I have a lot friends there and I wish them the best,” he declared.

United fans would have loved to have seen Ronaldo, one of their favourite sons, return to Old Trafford, but realistically Real Madrid would have commanded an astronomical fee for the 28 year-old.

69 goals in 59 games was enough to end Lionel Messi’s dominance of the top individual prize in football and while many thought United may have claimed the player’s best years when he left for Spain, the Portuguese’s determination to improve has seen him go on to break even the highest standards.