FC Manchester United welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo on the board, again. The English football club signed the contract with the 36-year-old striker back from Juventus on a two-year basis, Daily Mail reports.
The Portuguese football legend is returning to the side where he won eight major trophies from 2003 to 2009. The Premier League club had announced last week they had agreed on a deal with the Italian giants to bring Cristiano to FC Manchester. The transfer was complete on Tuesday after Ronaldo passed a medical exam, secured a visa and agreed on personal terms.
A fee of EUR 15 million will be paid to Juventus over five years. Moreover, that could be increased by EUR 8 million depending on “specific performance objectives” Portuguese achieves.
“Manchester United is a club that has always had a special place in my heart and I have been overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since the announcement on Friday,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
Cristiano is set to join up with the squad after the international break and could make his first start next month when FC manchester host Newcastle Utd.
Ronaldo to make his first start on September 11
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that FC is lucky this season because they run out of words to describe Cristiano. He is not only a marvellous player but also a great human being.
“To have the desire and the ability to play at the top level for such a long period requires a very special person,” Ole added.
United goalkeeper David de Gea said it would be a “dream” to have Ronaldo back at the club. Former captain Roy Keane described him as a “born winner”.
Ronaldo spent six seasons at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, where he won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player in 2008 alongside his team accolades, before sealing a then-world record 80 million pounds ($110.24m) move to Real Madrid.
During his first spell in Manchester, he scored 118 goals and won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2007-2008 season, the year he helped United claim their last Champions League title.
