A former Manchester United striker, Teddy Sheringham, has expressed confidence that Cristiano Ronaldo, who departed from Old Trafford amidst controversy, might still have the opportunity to return to the club.
Sheringham believes that Ronaldo would be greeted with open arms upon his potential return, especially considering the appointment of fellow Portuguese, Ruben Amorim, as the new manager of the club.
Naija News reports that Ronaldo’s triumphant return to United in 2021 was initially heralded as an exceptional comeback.
However, his playing time for the Red Devils was short-lived, culminating in his departure following a highly publicized interview with Piers Morgan that led to his move to Al Nassr in the Saudi Professional League.
Presently, Ronaldo has established himself as a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia and is the league’s top scorer.
Despite the lingering controversies, Sheringham believes that Amorim’s return to the club, having previously played with Ronaldo for Portugal, could facilitate a comeback.
“Cristiano Ronaldo would undoubtedly be warmly welcomed back to Manchester United under Ruben Amorim. However, he is on a path of greater ambitions. I believe Ronaldo will follow in the footsteps of David Beckham, engaging in more high-profile international roles rather than taking up coaching positions,” a report from Mirror UK quoted Sheringham saying.
While Sheringham acknowledges the potential for Ronaldo’s return, he also recognizes that at the age of 39, Ronaldo might opt to conclude his career elsewhere.
Moreover, Sheringham does not anticipate Ronaldo taking up a coaching position at Old Trafford.
“I’m sure he’d be very, very welcome in any capacity coming back to the club, but I doubt that he’ll be a coach,” Sheringham added.
Ronaldo has expressed a personal reluctance towards coaching, as disclosed on his YouTube channel, UR, where he candidly shared his lack of enthusiasm for mentoring the present generation.
“For me, it will be challenging to transition into coaching due to my insufficient passion for this demographic. They seem to disregard the wisdom of our experiences,” Ronaldo elaborated.
He further articulated his concerns regarding the younger generation’s perception of education, stating, “They believe that smartphones, particularly platforms like TikTok and Instagram, can provide a quality education.”
Conversely, Ronaldo appears to be eagerly anticipating his shift towards entrepreneurial endeavours following his retirement from professional football.
“I have other things to worry about, another chapter of my life that is business-focused, and I’m excited about it. It will be a challenge for me to learn other areas I don’t know, to be more involved in my business, and I think I will be good at it,” he said.