Cristiano Ronaldo To Return To Old Trafford To Face Lionel Messi

Manchester United’s plot to get Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford has worked! But not as they would have hoped. Ronaldo is set to play at United’s home ground next month, but only for Portugal, who are set to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in an international friendly at the stadium.

Argentinian officials have all-but confirmed an international friendly between Argentina and Portugal will be held in northern England on November 18. Of course, both of these teams possess, arguably, the two greatest players in soccer’s recent history in the shape of Ronaldo and Messi. This means that soccer fans in the region are set to flock to the stadium to see the two titanic athletes tussle.

However, it will also give Manchester United fans a great opportunity to show Ronaldo how much they want him to return to Old Trafford on a permanent basis.

Ronaldo played for United between 2003 and 2009, and during this time, he was able to hone his skills to such an extent that he is widely regarded as the best player in the world at the moment. He also helped lead United to three Premier League titles, as well as two European Cup finals, one of which they won, as well as a handful of other domestic cup competitions too.

But Ronaldo had always pined for a move to Real Madrid, and in 2009, United decided that they weren’t going to bock his path to the Spanish giants any further, and they sanctioned a $130 million transfer to the Bernabeu. While in Spain, Ronaldo has been just as successful, but now transfer rumors suggesting that he might want to leave Madrid and return to Old Trafford just won’t go away.

This reached a head last weekend when Manchester United fans organised for a plane to fly-over a Real Madrid match carrying the banner, “Come Home Ronaldo – Reel United.”

Ronaldo has since discussed his feelings on the message with La Gazzetta dello Sport, and he while admitted that he’s over-joyed that United fans still have affection for him, he’s happy at Madrid.

“I always said that I have a family at Manchester but I’m good in Madrid. I’m glad of the affection that United fans have for me, it means that I have left good memories.”

This means that there are now two mouth-watering matches between Messi and Ronaldo to look forward to over the next few weeks. Ronaldo’s Real Madrid and Messi’s Barcelona are set to tussle at the Bernabeu at the end of the October in the season’s first El Clasico.

[Images via sportsplayerwallpaper.blogspot.com and WallpapersWala & Blogspot]