HERE’S RONNIE!
CRISTIANO BACK IN UNITED TRAINING AS HE PREPARES FOR ‘HOMECOMING’
CRISTIANO RONALDO trained with Manchester United for the first time since 2009 yesterday, with the club saying they expect him to be ready to make an immediate impact when he begins his second spell at home to Newcastle on Saturday.
Ronaldo is back at Old Trafford 12 years after he departed for Real Madrid, United sensationally completing his transfer from Juventus last week.
And now the club have made it clear the 36-year-old Portugal superstar is in line to make the first appearance of his second spell in this weekend’s Premier League game at Old Trafford.
With United beginning their Champions League campaign against Young Boys in Switzerland next Tuesday, they released a statement to say: ‘With challenges to come at home and abroad in the near future, it is hoped the striker will be ready to assist the side and begin to have an immediate impact in his second spell at the club.’
Ronaldo yesterday met with his former team-mate, now United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before being introduced to the players not on international duty and then taking part in training.
There have been suggestions his arrival could hinder the progress of young stars like Mason Greenwood – who trained alongside Ronaldo yester
day – and Marcus Rashford. England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking ahead of his team’s World Cup qualifier with Poland tonight, said: ‘The league is full of outstanding players, so ( they) are used to that level of competition every week. We’ll just have to see what happens. That’s for Ole to decide and manage his squad.’
Jesse Lingard, another player likely to be affected and who scored twice for England against Andorra on Sunday, has rejected a contract offer from United. He is said to have concerns about how often he will play in light of Ronaldo’s arrival.