Sir Alex Ferguson has been alerted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s problems at Real Madrid and wants to bring him back to Old Trafford.
A report in the Daily Mirror claims Ferguson will ask the Glazer family, who own Manchester United, to do all they can to re-sign the Portuguese international.
Ronaldo joined Los Blancos from United in June 2009 in a world record deal worth a reported €94m, but the player’s declaration this week that he is unhappy at the Santiago Bernabeu has raised the possibility of a return to the Red Devils.
“The manager made it clear when Ronaldo joined Real that if he ever left the Bernabeu he should return to Old Trafford,” the newspaper quotes a United source as saying.
“It is a transfer that would prove that United can still compete with anyone for the biggest names in football.
“But, at the moment, only Ronaldo knows whether he is serious about leaving Madrid or whether he’s just having a sulk.”
It is also reported that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez is so upset with Ronaldo’s lack of respect for the club that he will consider offers of over €100m, although United’s owners would need to look at ways of raising the capital without getting further into debt.
Manchester City could also be interested despite Ronaldo’s recent insistence he could never sign for the Blues so long as Ferguson remained in charge of their cross-city rivals.