Van Gaal admits he is open to Ronaldo return

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has sensationally admitted that the Premier League club would be open to the possibility of bringing back Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford. Such a sensational transfer has been mooted in the transfer pages of several major newspapers. Spanish reports claim that United could make an offer in the region of £ 60 million for the player that they sold for £ 80 million in 2009. Madrid stand to receive less than the figure that they originally paid for him because the Portuguese superstar is approaching 30 years of age. He will have almost no resale value after the end of his next contract.

Madrid, though, have profited immensely due to the presence of Ronaldo after the forward has scored more than a goal every game for the Spanish club. They have won all the major titles with his presence upfront. The recent signings of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez hinted that Ronaldo’s influential to the club may be on the wane. This coupled with United’s need to seriously improve the quality means that a potential bid could be online. Van Gaal, who has already spent more than £ 150 million last summer, says that a player like Ronaldo will improve any team immensely.

“When it is possible, what I said with [Radamel] Falcao, players like Ronaldo give a lot extra to selection or to a team but I don’t think Real Madrid shall sell him,” said Van Gaal. “I love Manchester and you never know in football. Of course I’m happy at Real Madrid; it’s my home, it’s my club, but United treated me unbelievably, so you never know. I am still in contact with some people there because I had a good relationship with everybody – it was like my second family,” said Ronaldo a few months ago.