Manchester United fans may have to wait a little bit longer before seeing Cristiano Ronaldo make his long-awaited return to Old Trafford.
After much speculation over his future, it was announced just a few days prior to the end of the summer transfer window that Cristiano Ronaldo would be rejoining Manchester United. He’ll be doing so more than 12 years after he last pulled on that famous red shirt with many fans anticipating a really strong comeback in what could well be his “last dance” in English football.
To play or not to play
The overwhelming expectation has long since been that he’ll make his second debut on September 11 against Newcastle United. However, a recent report has suggested why that idea could be under some threat.
Ronaldo recently made his way over to England after enjoying his time on international duty with Portugal. Because of that he needs to undergo COVID-19 isolation rules, meaning he will only have one day to train with the first team on Friday before the game at the weekend.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows and understands how much anticipation there is behind Ronaldo’s return but if he throws him in at the deep end before he’s truly had a chance to gel with the squad, he could be risking an injury for CR7.
Still, even if he doesn’t start, there’s bound to be a level of temptation for the Norwegian boss when it comes to bringing him off the bench. The standing ovation alone would be enough of a headline-making moment to get a solid performance out of Ronaldo but again, at the age of 36, Ole will want to consider the long-term benefits of having him back at the club as opposed to the short term.
If he opts to leave Ronaldo out then the next available opportunity for the former Real Madrid man to make an impact would be next Tuesday against Young Boys in the Champions League.
Featured image credit: Getty
