The dramatic return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United unfolded on a single Friday, beginning with reports that a move to Manchester City was 'gathering pace'. Within hours, Sir Alex Ferguson intervened, setting the stage for a stunning hijack that would see the Portugal forward return to Old Trafford after 12 years.
United's owners, the Glazer family, saw the deal as a seismic signing to win back supporters disillusioned by the club's direction and still aggrieved by the Super League fiasco. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, in a press conference that day, dodged questions but hinted at communication with Ronaldo, saying: 'If he was ever gonna move away from Juventus he knows we're here.'
Former teammate Rio Ferdinand, a close friend of Ronaldo, tweeted a meme that seemed to hint at something afoot. Multiple sources confirmed that Ferguson spoke directly with Ronaldo that morning, persuading him to choose United. City, seemingly certain to sign the striker, later confirmed they had ended their pursuit.
The deal moved swiftly: a medical was arranged in Lisbon, and the fee was described as 'amortised', with a two-year contract worth £480,000 a week. By the end of Friday, sources described the deal as 'done', capping one of the most sensational transfer stories in football history.
