Cristiano Ronaldo was just transferred to Manchester United from Juventus, and the news broke the internet.
The Portugal international is perhaps the most marketable athlete in professional sports history, so it’s no wonder that his return to Old Trafford piqued fans’ interest.
Manchester United’s post on their official Instagram page celebrating his homecoming has received 12.7 million likes and growing, the most of any sports team on the platform.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return to Manchester United for a reputed £25 million fee. Before the surprising turn of events, the 36-year-old was rumoured to go to Manchester City.
Manchester United is one of the most popular clubs globally, and their website failed due to a surge in traffic following the announcement of Cristiano Ronaldo’s move.
Following his record-breaking performances between 2003 and 2009, the Portuguese have become a fan favourite at Old Trafford.
Before his world-record transfer to Real Madrid, he made 292 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions, scoring 118 goals and won a slew of individual awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone on to become one of the greatest players in the game’s history, setting numerous records throughout his time with Real Madrid and Juventus.
Manchester United has sunk from the heights reached during Cristiano Ronaldo’s first stay at the club.
The Portugal international left the club after winning three straight league titles and appearing in successive UEFA Champions League finals.
They stayed in this position for a few years until Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 changed the complexion of the Premier League.
Since then, Manchester United has been chasing after Manchester City, Chelsea, and, most notably, Liverpool and has come nowhere close to challenging for the title.
However, they have made significant progress in recent years in terms of recruitment, and their squad depth is now among the best in the league.
The signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has further enhanced Manchester United’s pedigree on the field.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is one of the most motivated players in history, and his will to win will undoubtedly rub off on some of the younger players.
Despite the progress made by the Premier League’s premier teams, Manchester United will still face brutal competition from Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
