Cristiano Ronaldo reunion with Man Utd teased as bold claim made – 'I know for a fact'

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A sensational reunion between Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United could soon be on the horizon. Reports suggest the Red Devils are considering arranging a mid-season friendly against Ronaldo's current club, Al-Nassr , at some point over the coming months.

The proposed fixture, set to take place in Saudi Arabia, would offer the Portuguese icon a fitting opportunity to bid farewell to United supporters after his second spell at Old Trafford ended on a sour note. Ronaldo returned to United in 2021 after 12 years away, but his contract was terminated little over a year later following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan , during which he openly criticised both the club and manager Erik ten Hag .

Benni McCarthy, who served as Ten Hag's assistant at the time, has since insisted that despite the acrimonious nature of Ronaldo's departure, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner still deserves the chance to have a proper send-off from the fans.

"I think the manner that he left, it wasn't a fitting manner for such an unbelievable, world-class player of his stature," McCarthy told Best Betting Sites. "So if that is the case that United get to play against Al Nassr, it will be a nice way for him as well to reconnect with the club that he's achieved so much with and the club that put him on the map in world football.

"It would [also] be a nice way for him to say goodbye to his team-mates. Because I know for a fact after that interview dropped he just left and we never saw him again.

"He never got to say goodbye to the players, to his team-mates and to the technical staff that was there. But this might give him a proper opportunity to reunite with the United faithful again. And the fans that will be there will give him a nice farewell, because that's what he deserves for what he's achieved at the club."

Ronaldo's second spell at Manchester United began promisingly but his return coincided with a dip in form that ultimately cost manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job. Although the Portuguese forward continued to find the net regularly, critics argued that his presence was tactically detrimental.

He finished the season with an impressive 24 goals in all competitions, yet his efforts weren't enough to secure Champions League qualification for United. Over the summer, Ronaldo grew increasingly disillusioned with the club's direction and expressed his desire to leave.

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After missing much of United's pre-season in an attempt to engineer a move away, Ronaldo found himself on the fringes under new manager Ten Hag, often omitted from the starting line-up.

In his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo claimed he felt "betrayed" by Ten Hag and criticised United for becoming a shadow of the club they once were under Sir Alex Ferguson . His contract was terminated on the eve of the 2022 World Cup, after which he signed with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

In the years since, Ronaldo has scored an astonishing 105 goals in 118 appearances, spearheading a footballing revolution in the Gulf nation. His arrival paved the way for a wave of high-profile stars to follow him to Saudi Arabia, transforming the league's global profile.

Although Ronaldo's departure from United left a bitter aftertaste, he remains a beloved figure among the club's supporters - and the chance to see him grace the pitch against United one final time would surely be welcomed.

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The Red Devils have been looking at planning some money-spinning friendlies, which would also help fill the midweek void left after failing to qualify for European competition, with Al-Nassr emerging as potential opponents.

Manager Ruben Amorim has already expressed his enthusiasm for arranging such fixtures, raising the prospect of an emotional reunion between Ronaldo and his former club. "We have to do it. And you know, we knew that when we missed out on Europe, we have a lot of things to do," he said.

"We have our fans, we have the budget, we have to to compensate for a lot of things. So we have to do it. We will do it. We want to be with our fans around the world. If you have to do it, you have to manage to find the space to do it."

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