Gary Neville believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United can propel the club into real Premier League contenders.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner returns to Manchester United, where he left 12-years-ago for Real Madrid, and the ultimate objective is to bring success back to Old Trafford.
Reacting to the news on Sky Sports, Neville was excited about Ronaldo’s imminent return.
The pair played together down the right flank and Neville knows exactly how much Ronaldo means to the club.
“This news gives me more hope that Manchester United could have a great season and what it does give every Manchester United fan is a great feeling,” he said on air, as quoted by The Mirror.
“This is one of the most special players that has ever lived, that has ever played the game of football, forget Manchester United, this is one of the greats of all time and we’re seeing him in the Premier League, so it makes the Premier League so much more exciting this season.”
Attention will turn to how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets the most out of his attacking players.
Edinson Cavani extended his contract for an extra year, Mason Greenwood is bursting through and there’s still quite a few that need to improve.
Anthony Martial being one of those.
However, Neville thinks Ronaldo will play in a number nine role this season.
“He’ll play regularly, he’ll play as a number nine, he’ll play as a centre forward and I’m sure they’ll put legs in around him. He will score goals.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, win personal accolades, set the Premier League on fire. It is a different Cristiano Ronaldo, everyone accepts that, but he is a number nine, he’s a centre forward, he’s someone who has that burst of speed over short spaces that will cause problems.
“He makes great runs inside the box, he has anticipation of where the ball is going to drop so I think in terms of what he gives to Manchester United, he gives them something at this moment of time they need.
“I thought Man Utd should be in for Kane if he’s available, in for Haaland these types of players to get above Manchester City and Liverpool and Chelsea they’re going to have to do something big.
“This could give them a temper shot in the arm that would potentially get them right up there this year.”
