OFFICIAL! Cristiano Ronaldo makes a sensational return to Manchester United 12 years after departing

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Manchester United player! Just a few hours after Manchester City pulled out of the race to sign the legendary Portuguese – news appeared that Manchester United are the favourites to land Juventus' best-paid player. And now it's been confirmed!

Twelve years after switching Old Trafford for Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the former Sporting CP and Real Madrid forward is back in England and back at the stadium where he became a global football star.

A few days ago, Paris Saint-Germain pulled out of a race to land Cristiano Ronaldo, leaving Manchester City's route to signing the Portuguese superstar wide open. But then the unthinkable happened. On Friday afternoon, City pulled out of the deal before there even was one. No fee agreed with Juventus, no personal terms discussed with the player. But Ronaldo's wily agent Jorge Mendes has got the job done in the city of Manchester! Manchester United have announced the return of one of football's biggest-ever stars!.

According to Manchester Evening News, Ronaldo will sign a two-year contract and will earn around $660,000 per week!

It is understood City were offered the chance to sign Ronaldo, who informed his club of an intention to leave over the past 24 hours, but after considering the matter carefully will not be taking the possibility any further. Their loss proved their biggest rivals' gain as they pulled off one of the biggest coups since... well, since Cristiano left in 2009.

Sensation! Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of a return to Manchester United after rivals City drop out of the race

The Internet went in a frenzy when United published this statement on their official website.

"Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached an agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.

Cristiano, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has so far won over 30 major trophies during his career, including five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship for his native Portugal.

In his first spell for Manchester United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games.

Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester."

While United fans will understandably be in ecstasy over this remarkable news, bringing Ronaldo back doesn't automatically guarantee anything results-wise. Ronaldo's experience in Italy could serve as a warning of what could go wrong on his return. Juventus had reached the Champions League final twice in three years prior to Ronaldo's arrival in 2018 for $128 million.

In his three seasons in Turin, la Vecchia Signora never made it beyond the quarter-finals, crashing out to far less well-resourced opposition in Ajax, Lyon and Porto. Inter Milan also ended Juventus' nine-year grip on Serie A last season. But Ronaldo can argue that was a sign of the Italian giants' declining standards rather than his own. Juve have changed managers in each of the past three seasons only to end up back where they started by reappointing Massimiliano Allegri.

Sunday, 18.30: (4.50) Wolverhampton (3.45) Man.Utd. (1.85)

Ronaldo still topped the Serie A goal charts last season, edging out Romelu Lukaku, who joined Chelsea this month. And he also rolled back the years at Euro 2020 to win the Golden Boot despite playing just four games as Portugal bowed out at the last 16.

Unlike at Juventus, Ronaldo is returning to a situation more akin to what he enjoyed at Madrid, surrounded by a star-studded squad. United had already added his former Madrid teammate Raphael Varane and England winger Jadon Sancho this summer. Solskjaer now has a wealth of attacking options featuring Ronaldo's international teammate Bruno Fernandes, Sancho, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Paul Pogba. However, United' season and Solskjaer's time in charge will now likely come down to whether Ronaldo fires or fails second time around at Old Trafford.

One thing is certain - all eyes will be on Manchester United and their old-new star Cristiano Ronaldo!