Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Manchester United amid controversy, may still have the chance to return to Old Trafford, according to former United striker Teddy Sheringham. Sheringham suggested that Ronaldo could be warmly welcomed back, especially with the prospect of Ruben Amorim, a fellow Portuguese, potentially taking over as manager.
In 2021, Ronaldo’s celebrated return to United was initially a thrilling comeback for fans. However, his time at the club took a dramatic turn, culminating in a highly publicized interview with Piers Morgan where he aired grievances about the club’s management and culture. The fallout led to his departure, and Ronaldo subsequently joined Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Now a leading figure in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has embraced a new chapter, currently leading the league in scoring.
Sheringham believes that Amorim’s potential appointment as manager could create an ideal environment for Ronaldo’s return. Amorim, who previously played alongside Ronaldo for the Portuguese national team, could make the reunion more feasible, in Sheringham’s view.
“Cristiano Ronaldo would be very welcome back at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim. But he is onto bigger and better things,” Sheringham told FlashScore. “I think Ronaldo will follow in the path of David Beckham, doing higher-profile things worldwide rather than coaching.”
Though Sheringham considers a return plausible, he concedes that at 39, Ronaldo may choose to finish his career elsewhere, rather than returning to United. He also doesn’t foresee Ronaldo taking up a coaching role at Old Trafford, saying, “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 himself has previously expressed disinterest in coaching. On his YouTube channel, UR, he revealed he lacks a passion for guiding younger players, pointing to generational differences. “For me, it will be difficult one day to be a coach because I don’t have a passion for this generation. They don’t take advice from our experience. They think the phones will give you a good education—TikTok, Instagram,” Ronaldo said.
Instead, Ronaldo is looking forward to a business-focused future. “I have other things to worry about, another chapter of my life that is business-focused, and I’m excited about it,” he said. “It will be a challenge for me to learn other areas I don’t know, to be more involved in my business, and I think I will be good at it.”
While the possibility of a return to Old Trafford lingers, it seems Ronaldo’s next steps will likely lead him off the pitch and into the business world.
