Sky and BT Sport have been left kicking themselves after Cristiano Ronaldo's likely second debut with Manchester United will not be televised live in the UK.
Ronaldo completed a sensational return to the Premier League and Old Trafford this summer in a €23m move from Juventus, bringing an end a 12-year absence from England's top flight since his departure in 2009.
The 36-year-old spent six years with United between 2003 and 2009, winning three Premier League titles, a Champions League, two League Cups and a Ballon d'Or while scoring 118 goals in 292 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's United.
But the Portugal international has made a stunning return to the club, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with the option of an extra year until 2024.
After the deal was completed on deadline day — and Ronaldo stated in his first words since his return that he couldn't wait to play in front of a full Old Trafford crowd once again — the broadcasters in the UK have realised that they have scored a massive own goal by not being able to show his homecoming live.
In a rarity, United's game will kick-off on Saturday at 3pm, meaning it is covered by the legal blackout of live football being shown on television.
Last season, and for part of the previous campaign, the ban was lifted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability of fans to be able to go to games live and in person.
However, with fans now back in stadiums that ban is back in place and there is now no chance of that being changed.
Sky have the opportunity to show near full-length highlights of the game in their 'game of the day' from 8:30pm that night, while Match of the Day will also show official highlights later that night. But unless you have a ticket to the game to be inside Old Trafford, you won't legally be able to watch it live.
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