Top 5 Manchester United signings of all time

5) Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo became a household name during his days at United

Since joining Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed greater success than he did when at Manchester United, but the Portugal international flourished into the core of the world-class player he is today after joining from Sporting Lisbon back in 2003.

Nowadays, he’s a three-time Ballon d’Or winner and holder of a prestigious Euro 2016 winners’ medal who helped Real Madrid win La Decima, as well as their 11th European Cup but there were days when his greatness was questioned, when he wasn’t so widely lauded for his brilliance – and that was when he used to be one of Ferguson’s troops.

Although he wasn’t as well-rounded a player (his petulance often rising to the surface), he was nevertheless a proactive game-changer who helped blaze the fires of their prestige with some stirring performances and goal-scoring prowess which saw him rattle the net 118 times in six seasons.

He has honed his skills tremendously since joining Los Blancos in July 2009 but he will always be considered a great who knew how to entertain, get the crowd excited and play with a fearlessness which has always been key to United’s identity.

Who knows, he might return someday.