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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

What 'unplayable' Cristiano Ronaldo gives Manchester United in the Premier League title race

Cristiano Ronaldo will have Premier League defenders quaking in their boots as the Portuguese superstar prepares to make his second Manchester United debut.

The 36-year-old is back at Old Trafford - 12 years after he departed for Real Madrid - and is expected to kick-off his encore against Newcastle United tomorrow afternoon.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals and laid on 69 assists during his first spell with United between 2003 and 2009.

Those six memorable seasons also brought the Portugal captain three Premier League titles, one Champions League and the first of his five Ballon d'Or awards.

But what, exactly, is it like to face a player who many consider among the greatest of all-time?

Speaking to radio station talkSPORT, pundit and former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor said: "He can outpace you, beat you in the air, score with his left foot, right foot - unplayable is the word I would use.

"There's a massive aura about Ronaldo. His physical presence and muscle add to that aura; 'I'm Ronaldo, I'm going to go out there and play'.

How many goals will Ronaldo score this season? Let us know in the comments section below.

"With players like Ronaldo, if he did score two or three goals past you or he did 'meg you, or get past you with a bit of skill, then you could still have your head raised high because it's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"It was like an honour, as a defender, for him to 'meg you..."

Agbonlahor added: "I don't think most of them, after playing Ronaldo, could take their boots off for 20 minutes after because they were still shattered from the game."

When asked to describe Ronaldo in three words, the ex-Villa man said: "Electric, goalscorer, professional."

The Manchester Evening News edition for Saturday 11th September featuring the Viva Ronaldo supplement is available to order on the shop via the following link.

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