Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has addressed his choice to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United during his tenure as manager, confirming what many fans had long suspected regarding the forward's return to Old Trafford.
Ronaldo first rose to prominence in football during his initial stint with United, having transferred from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 for over £12 million as a successor to David Beckham.
During his first period at the club, the Portuguese star secured three Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Ballon d'Or under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, before making a move to Real Madrid in 2009 for a then-record transfer fee of £80 million.
After nearly ten years at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he won two La Liga titles, four additional Champions League trophies, and another four Ballon d'Or awards, Ronaldo transitioned to Juventus.
Following a €100 million transfer to the Italian club and two Serie A titles, he made a heartfelt return to United in the summer of 2021, reuniting with his former teammate Solskjaer during a challenging period for the Norwegian as United's manager.
However, Ronaldo's second spell at United did not mirror the success of his first, and under the management of Erik ten Hag, his time at Old Trafford ended abruptly after an incendiary interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticized various aspects of the club's operations.
Ronaldo departed United after his contract was mutually terminated and subsequently signed with Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr.
Solskjaer left United in November 2021 following a series of disappointing results and has now reflected on Ronaldo's re-signing, acknowledging a sentiment that many supporters had suspected.
The decision to re-sign Ronaldo was partly motivated by the desire to prevent him from joining arch-rivals Manchester City, but Solskjaer believes that the Portuguese's return may have altered the dynamics within the United dressing room, leading some players to feel less valued.
He is likely to surpass the number of goals currently being scored by Erling Haaland.
"I had discussions with Cristiano about bringing him to Manchester United, but I believe that decision may have impacted the entire locker room dynamic. Other players might have felt diminished in importance due to the arrival of such a global superstar."
"His performance was commendable; he finished as the top scorer that season with around 24 goals, yet I found myself out of a job just ten weeks later."
Since his exit from United, Solskjaer has not returned to management but has expressed a desire to come back to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr is set to expire next year, as it stands.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reflected on his choice to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo during his tenure as Manchester United manager, confirming what many supporters have long believed regarding Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford.
Ronaldo first made a name for himself at United after transferring from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 for over £12 million, stepping in as David Beckham's successor.
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