Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on the key role his “father in football” Sir Alex Ferguson played in his return to Manchester United.
The 36-year-old was officially confirmed as a United player on deadline day, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo returns to the club 12 years after he made the switch to Real Madrid. He sealed that move to the Bernabeu after Ferguson offered the forward a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ at the end of the 2007/08 season.
Since leaving United, he has regularly described the legendary manager as the biggest influence in his career and reports claimed the Scot got in touch with Ronaldo during transfer negotiations.
At the time, it looked as if Ronaldo could go back on his word and join Manchester City, only for a late U-turn to change his plans.
And after dedicating the move to his ex-boss on social media, he once again heaped praise on the coach that helped turn him into one of the world’s best.
“As everybody knows, since I signed for Manchester [United] at 18, Sir Alex Ferguson was the key,” he told the club’s official website.
“I remember when we played against Manchester when I was at Sporting Lisbon. For me, Sir Alex Ferguson is like a father in football for me.
“He helped me a lot, he taught me many things, and in my opinion of course he had a big role because the relationship that we had, we keep in touch all the time, and he’s an unbelievable person.
“I really like him a lot and he was the main key for me to be in the position that I am, that I signed for Manchester United.”
Ronaldo returns to the Premier League, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, thanks to a near two-decade run at the top of the European game.
He decided to leave Juventus after three seasons, where he failed to win the game’s ultimate prize, the Champions League.
He hopes that linking up with former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can help elevate United back to the levels last seen in his first spell.
“I think it’s the best decision that I have made it. It’s right on point in my opinion,” Ronaldo continued.
“I moved from Juve now to Manchester, it’s a new chapter, I’m so happy and glad, and I want to carry on again, to make history, to try to help Manchester achieve great results, to win trophies and number one of them, to win great things.”
Ronaldo is in line to make his second United debut later this month, but before that, he could break the record for international goals, should he score his 110th in their three upcoming fixtures.
