Cristiano Ronaldo will be back at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, hoping to fire his Juventus team-mates to a Champions League victory, just as he did on his first return to Manchester United with Real Madrid five years ago. The 33-year-old became a star at United during a six-year stay from 2003, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008, before joining Real in an £80m move.
So it was an emotional night for the forward when he came back for a Champions League last-16 tie in 2013. But, despite making his respects for his former club clear, Ronaldo delivered the match-winning blow for the visitors after a controversial red card for his compatriot Nani.
Here, ahead of Juventus’ group-stage clash with United, we look back at Ronaldo’s previous return to Old Trafford…
Manchester United 1-2 Real Madrid (Real win 3-2 on aggregate)
Evenly balanced after the first leg and Ronaldo’s first intervention
Real Madrid and Manchester United were drawn together in the last-16 of the Champions League in 2013 and the stage was set for a mouth-watering clash between the Spanish champions and a United team on their way to reclaiming the Premier League crown.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho described the tie as “the match the world wanted to see – the only shame is that it is not the final”. The first leg at the Bernabeu lived up to the billing, with Ronaldo scoring a towering header to cancel out Danny Welbeck’s opener. “I don’t think there’s another player in the world who can do that,” Sir Alex Ferguson said of Ronaldo’s goal.
There was a certain inevitability about Ronaldo scoring against his old side but David De Gea was in fine form to ensure the visitors left Spain with a 1-1 draw and a real chance at making the quarter-finals.
Manchester United fans welcomed Ronaldo back warmly
The focus was fully on Ronaldo at Old Trafford three weeks later. The forward received a huge ovation from the home supporters when his name was read out and touched his chest in appreciation but his team were soon on the back foot and fell behind when Sergio Ramos diverted the ball into his own net.
The match and the tie turned, though, when Nani was shown a controversial red card for a high challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa by referee Cuneyt Cakir on 56 minutes. “The decision seemed very harsh, possibly incredible at that moment in the game,” said United assistant manager Mike Phelan afterwards, with Ferguson too incensed to speak to the media.