Manchester United are planning to conduct a medical on Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon ahead of re-signing one of their greatest players.
United are in the process of finalising a two-year contract with Ronaldo, 36, after he informed Juventus of his intention to leave the club.
The Manchester Evening News revealed the United owners, the Glazer family, had sanctioned a belated move for Ronaldo when he appeared set to join Manchester City.
City have since ended their interest in Ronaldo, although the MEN understands Ronaldo informed them he was no longer interested once United contacted him.
The MEN also revealed Sir Alex Ferguson spoke with Ronaldo on Friday morning, when City were the only club interested in signing him from Juventus.
Ferguson's intervention - as well as the backing of the Glazers - has prompted Ronaldo to settle on a homecoming at United 12 years after he left the club.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke effusively about his former teammate Ronaldo at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"I didn't think Cristiano was gonna turn out leaving Juventus," Solskjaer said. "And it's been speculation this morning and the last few days.
"We've always had good communication. I know Bruno [Fernandes]'s been talking to him as well and he knows what we feel about him. And if he was ever gonna move away from Juventus he knows we're here.
"We focus on the ones we have there, I don't want to speculate too much on Cristiano, what's happening there with the press.
"I've said many times with speculation, when you're Man United, when you're Ronaldo, when you're Messi, when you're Pogba, when you're Bruno, you have to read a lot about yourselves. So let's see what happens with Cristiano, he's such a legend of this club.
"Cristiano has been a legend of this club, he is a legend of this club, he's the greatest player of all time, if you ask me. I was fortunate enough to play with him, I coached him (in 2008) when I got my job. He almost retired me in that Wolverhampton game (in 2003) when I got injured because he kept switching sides!
"Such a tremendous human being, as well. Let's see what happens with Cristiano. Everyone who's played with him has a soft spot for him."
