Manchester re-United! Real star Ronaldo in line to make Old Trafford return

 

Cristiano Ronaldo has won last season's Golden Boot 

Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to make a sensational return to Manchester United - for Rio Ferdinand's testimonial.

Ferdinand will have been at Old Trafford 10 years next summer and a series of events will be held to honour the central defender.

High on the list of priorities is getting Real Madrid star Ronaldo back to the club he left in 2009 although nothing will be confirmed until after Euro 2012 and the London Olympics.

 

Ronaldo score his fourth hat-trick of the season on sunday against Osasuna

Ronaldo signed for United in 2003 and collected a host of prizes over the next six years.

He has won three Premier League titles, a Champions League, one FA Cup, two League Cups and a FIFA Club World Cup.

The 26-year-old also took home plenty of individual awards before moving to the Spanish capital for £80million in the summer of 2009.

Glory days: Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand celebrate the 20007 Premier League

If anything, Ronaldo has improved since making the switch to La Liga. Real won last season's Copa del Rey although they have struggled to keep up with Barcelona.

But Ronaldo scored his fourth hat-trick of the season at the weekend to take his tally in Spain to 103 goals in 106 games.

The Spanish top-flight leaders have Ronaldo tied down to a long-term contract but they could be open to letting him make an emotional return to Manchester for one night only.

United set to clinch deal for Brazilian-born PSV hot shot Pereira

Manchester United have won the race to sign PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian-born midfielder Andreas Pereira.

The 15-year-old is regarded as one of the finest players for his age in Europe with most of the elite sides keen on him.

However the player has confirmed he will move to Old Trafford at the turn of the year when he turns 16.

He said: 'I knew that PSV had given me my chance, but Manchester United is obviously a great club.

'Other British clubs were interested. I thought about it, but Manchester United is a dream club for me.

'I have been a few times to Manchester United to have a look.

'I got a tour and spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson. Being a 15-year-old and being able to talk with him is great.' he told VoetbalPrimeur.

He added in De Telegraaf: 'I am an offensive midfielder, a real No 10. Setting up my team-mates, scoring goals and a good shot are my qualities.'

Pereira moved to Belgium as a child and has been capped at youth level. PSV signed him from local side Lommel United but United look set to bring him to Old Trafford.

Javier Hernández: I almost quit before Manchester United move

The Manchester United striker Javier Hernández has revealed he almost quit football before joining the Premier League club. The Mexico international last month signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford after making a huge impression in his first season at the club.

Hernández scored 20 goals in all competitions last term after joining United from Chivas of Guadalajara in the summer of 2010. Yet the 23-year-old has not always enjoyed his football and told Inside United: "It was about three years ago and I had a lot of questions about whether or not this was the path God wanted me to follow.

"I wasn't playing much football, I was being kept in the reserves. I was disappointed younger players were coming through and getting ahead of me and it really got me down, even away from football.

"I talked a lot with my parents, my grandparents, my sister and my girlfriend about my situation and they helped me realise that this is what I was meant to do. I know now that I'm a very lucky guy and I'm glad I made the decision to keep playing. That experience taught me a lot."

Hernández missed the start of this campaign after suffering concussion during a pre-season training session in the United States. The player spent time in hospital after the incident but was never concerned the condition was serious.

Hernández said: "I just headed the ball on the wrong part of my head. It was a very strong cross, the ball moved in the air and it hit me on the back of my head.

"I think all injuries  in football or in life are scary and it's never nice to have bad headaches or be throwing up. But I knew I would be OK. This had happened twice before in Mexico, when I'd clashed heads with another player. So I knew what was happening to me, I knew the symptoms and knew I'd feel OK again."

Jones backs England's young guns to make a big impact at Euro 2012

 

Phil Jones insists England can make a big impact at Euro 2012.

The Manchester United youngster is hoping to make his second international appearance in Saturday's friendly encounter with world champions Spain at Wembley.

Jones is one of the youngsters upon whom manager Fabio Capello is pinning his hopes for England to shrug off the weariness that prevented them from showing their true colours at the World Cup in South Africa.

While some of Capello's own remarks have been used to portray a pessimistic picture of England's chances of making their mark in Poland and Ukraine, Jones brings with him the optimism of youth.

'I don't see why we can't surprise a few people next summer,' he said.

We have a great squad, with a great mentality.

'I am sure we can go there with a great chance of getting to the final stages, if not going all the way.'

Not that Jones is dismissing the opposition.

Both Spain and Germany have proved themselves to be a class apart over the past few years, while there will be plenty of others who have at least an equal chance of being crowned kings of Europe.

'A lot of the teams have got better and stronger as the years have gone by,' he said.

'But we are still a fantastic team. We have great quality in our side and are able to compete with the best.'

Capello has made a conscious decision to introduce a huge number of youngsters to his squad.

Jones' Old Trafford team-mates Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck have already been capped this term and Tom Cleverley only missed out on making his debut when the August friendly with Holland was postponed.

This time around the introductions have come from other clubs, with Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge and Jack Rodwell from Everton called into the senior squad for the first time. 'It is brilliant to see players you have grown up with on an international stage come through to the seniors,' said Jones of his former under-21 colleagues.

'They deserve to be in. Their form for their clubs has shown that. Hopefully they get a chance and prove why they should be here.'

Yet there is plenty of experience missing too.

In Steven Gerrard's case it is through injury. For Rio Ferdinand it is due to Capello's desire to see the veteran central defender work on his fitness, knowing the task is made harder by Jones' excellent progress since his £17million summer move from Blackburn.

'It is surprising Rio is not in the squad,' said Jones.

'He is a fantastic player and a fantastic leader, with a lot of experience. Hopefully he can push his way back in.'

Yet, such is Jones' flexibility that even with the likely absence of skipper John Terry and Phil Jagielka unable to train this morning due to a toe problem, he cannot count on being able to fill his favoured central defensive role.

Against Montenegro last month, the Lancashire-born player made his international bow at right-back while this time he is tipped to occupy the midfield holding role he first gained experience of at Blackburn.

'I have no preference about where I play,' he said.

'It is always nice to test yourself against the best. Wherever I am asked to play, I will.

'I feel as though I am more than capable of playing right-back, centre-back or central midfield.

'I have experience in all those positions now.'