“Like Caesar entering Rome”: Sir Alex Ferguson comments on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United return

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·26 September 2021

“Like Caesar entering Rome”: Sir Alex Ferguson comments on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United return

Sir Alex Ferguson comments on Cristiano Ronaldo making his Manchester United return this summer

Speaking in a UTD podcast episode (h/t official club website), Sir Alex Ferguson was in awe of the reception Cristiano Ronaldo got on his return to Manchester United.

The Portuguese superstar joined the Red Devils this summer 12 years after he left the club for Real Madrid. Since then, a lot has changed for the player as well as the club.

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While Ronaldo went on to multiply his trophies and accolades at Madrid and then Juventus, United gradually entered a decline that started right after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 4 goals already for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. (imago Images)

Nevertheless, the player and the club have joined hands again to achieve greater success together. Ronaldo’s signing was perhaps one of the headline stories in world sports when it happened.

Sir Alex happy with CR7’s return

Fans flocked the club stores to get their Ronaldo 7 shirts while the stadium was jam-packed to see the player make his second debut for the club on 11th September against Newcastle United.

And amongst those watching that historical moment was Sir Alex himself– the man who was at the helm when the Red Devils bought and sold Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on Manchester United return vs Newcastle United. (Twitter/@Premierleague)

“It’s fantastic. You saw on that Saturday that it was like Caesar entering Rome after victory. I came, I saw, I conquered. It was fantastic. I mean, for anyone who is a United fan, we could have had a million people in there, without doubt, as there were so many outside, hundreds outside.”

The Scotsman then recalled some of the observations he made when the player first arrived at Old Trafford, some 18 years back.

“It’s one of these things. When he was here as a kid, his learning process was very, very quick. A lot of people said he was a diver and there was a little spell of that but, after that, he was attacking defenders and all he needed was a nudge and he would waltz by them. He would attack with unbelievable speed.”

While Sir Alex may not be at the helm anymore, Ronaldo can surely call on him for his blessings and support. The biggest gift he can give back to the Scotsman is a Premier League title, but it remains to be seen if United are up for the challenge this season.