Cristiano Ronaldo could return to Old Trafford in some capacity, the Portuguese's former team-mate Danny Simpson has said in an exclusive interview with GOAL, as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner wants to "make Manchester United great again". A third stint with the Red Devils may be taken in once retirement has been reached and a move into directorial posts is explored.
No sign of Ronaldo retiring any time soon
There is no sign of CR7 hanging up his boots any time soon, with a new two-year contract being signed with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. That deal will take the evergreen frontman beyond his 42nd birthday. If he still feels up to it, then his record-shattering career could be extended further beyond that point.
A day will come, though, when Ronaldo calls it a day. Speculation regarding his next move has already begun. Questions have been asked of whether the all-time great would want to move into coaching, given the stresses involved there. Ownership has been mooted, alongside a behind-the-scenes role that would allow CR7 to get more hands on with the day-to-day running of a football club.
AdvertisementWhat will Ronaldo do next? Man Utd return mooted
If he were to head down that path, then it could be that another reunion is enjoyed with United. The Premier League giants helped to put Ronaldo on the path to superstardom – delivering his first Champions League crown and Ballon d’Or. A second stint with the Red Devils ended in controversial circumstances when his contract was ripped up.
Quizzed on whether Ronaldo would like to right a few wrongs at Old Trafford, Simpson – speaking in association with – told GOAL: "I wouldn’t say no. If you look at his mentality, he obviously cares about the club. I think he would say that because he would like to come back again but in another way. I don’t think he liked the way he left so he’d like to come back and make United great again, on some kind of level making decisions.
"The business side is obviously very different, but he’s also a businessman. You can’t knock that team he’s got around him. I’d love him to because I think he’s got a lot to offer, even on that side of the game going forward. Just his mentality and everything he does, he achieves it. That’s what United need."
What role could Ronaldo fill at Old Trafford?
Several other former United stars have speculated on what the future could hold for CR7 in Manchester. Wes Brown has said: "You never know what Cristiano Ronaldo wants to do, but you can’t doubt him after everything he’s achieved. I think first of all, it depends how he’s doing in Saudi Arabia, because it’s not clear he’ll be stopping any time soon – he’s still banging them in for Al Nassr. But he could definitely move into the boardroom, he’s got the ability to swerve away from coaching and into the executive level, 100 per cent. Why not? If he’s enjoying it, it’ll be perfect for him."
Quinton Fortune added: "Could Cristiano Ronaldo be a coach? I think he could do anything he puts his mind to. We’ve seen it first hand during his career. At Manchester United I could see him as a part owner, he’s done incredible things in football and also financially, anything is possible because he loves the club. The club still loves him with the amazing memories he created there, if he got an opportunity behind the scenes I think he’d jump to be a part of it."
GettyBusiness empire: CR7 brand continues to grow
Teddy Sheringham, a 1999 Treble winner, said on the same subject: "Cristiano Ronaldo would be very welcome back at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but he is onto bigger and better things. I think that Ronaldo will follow in the path of David Beckham in doing things away from coaching, higher profile things around the world. I'm sure he'd be very, very welcome in any capacity coming back to the club, but I doubt that he'll be a coach."
Ronaldo has offered no indication as to what he intends to do next. He has built up a vast business empire, with the CR7 brand considered to be one of the biggest in the world, and it may be that he walks away from football entirely when reaching retirement – allowing him to watch on from afar without boasting professional ties to any specific club or organisation.
