Manchester United sent their fans exploding in raptures as they announced the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford after 12 long years. Even what seemed like a Manchester City transfer until morning, changed dynamics when Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in.
With some persistence and love from the man who made Ronaldo the icon he is, the Portuguese marksman knew his destination. His return to the Theatre of Dreams heralds an era that can change the fortunes of the Devils that has been wrecked ever since the departure of Fergie.
This is not the first time that a player has made a return to Manchester United. There were a few instances that bore witness to the homecoming of players who once left Old Trafford in pursuit of a better destination. The arrival of Tom Heaton back to Manchester United to provide support to De Gea and Henderson popped a few eyeballs down the memory lane.
In this story, we will take a look at five players who made a return to Manchester United after seeking a career elsewhere or hanging the boots to surprise the world.
#1 Mark Hughes
Hughes took three years to make his Manchester United debut but made an instant impact as he was partnered with the likes of Frank Stapleton upfront while the latter’s former partner Norman Whiteside was shifted to the middle in order to forge a robust midfield duo with Ray Wilkins. He finished his first stint at Manchester United with 37 goals from 89 appearances, a figure that was more than enough to secure a move to Barcelona.
However, the man who performed so magically for United failed to live up to his heightened billing at Camp Nou and could only manage 4 goals from 28 appearances. He went on loan to Bayern Munich but once again lacked the former sting that he had at Old Trafford. Two years later he realized that he was born to play for the Devils and his return to the Theatre of Dreams under the chaperonage of Sir Alex Ferguson transformed him into a better individual. The Welsh striker went onto fire 83 goals from 256 matches before finally bidding adieu to United in 1995 to join Chelsea.
#2 Les Sealey
Sealey was an absolute titan for Luton Town as the custodian elapsed a staggering 7 years at the club. However, a late dip in form and availability of alternatives at Luton Town made him go on loan to Manchester United where he would only play 2 matches initially. However, once the move was permanent, he went on to become a bulwark in the last line of defence and seemed impregnable at the face of a severe salvo from the oppositions.
However, after gaining traction at United, he left Old Trafford for Aston Villa and whiled three years at the club before finally returning to United again for another year. However, that year couldn’t get him another name on the playing sheet as he served as the back-up to the reckoning Peter Schmeichel.
Brilliant Les Sealey save from a Nigel Clough free kick Sep ‘90. pic.twitter.com/a3hOP2IR0J
Advertisement— Old School United (@OldSchoolUtd) September 18, 2019
#3 Paul Pogba
The French youngster failed to impress under Sir Alex Ferguson and ended his first stint at Manchester United on an extremely sour note. In the year 2011-12, Pogba could only bag 3 appearances at the Theatre of Dreams under Fergie as he believed that the French sensation wasn’t rollicking enough to make a start for the Devils. He left United for Juventus in the following year and actually started making countless ripples for the Old Lady.
Spending four seasons at Turin, Pogba played 124 matches and bagged 28 goals with a few incredible assists. The blazing display belted out by him made the world take notice and Manchester United once again came calling in a desperate measure to make amends to their previously soured relationship and also to bolster their midfield. United had to shell out a fortune that read 105 million Euros to onboard their formerly lost star. Ever since his arrival at Old Trafford for a second spell, the Frenchman has proven his worth time and time again and is now one of the crucial cogs in the plans of Ole Solskjaer.
#4 Paul Scholes
This story is interesting because he didn’t leave Manchester United for another club. He left the club because he pulled the plug on his club career. This man was a one-club man and his loyalty towards the Devils simply remains unchallenged to date. He was a beastly midfielder whose perfect volleys and thunderbolts from the range rang the net loud enough to send the crowd in a thunderous roar.
He started his Manchester United career in 1993 and played until 2011 to create an enviable legacy at one of the most iconic clubs in the world. After calling it a day in 2011, he decided to play again a year late. He practiced with the reserve team and asked Fergie if he can be accommodated into the contingent. Already pressed by a midfield crisis at the moment, it was a welcome move for the management. Scholes reappeared for United against their city rivals, Manchester City and went onto score a couple of beauties in the upcoming games. He finally called it day in 2013 after a career that would leave any other player wondering the sheer amount of greatness.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo
Some say that he is back for the last dance while others believe that the Portuguese talisman has returned for an unfinished chapter at Old Trafford. The icon left the entire world in awe with some crazy feats and goals that would want any club in the world to run behind his signature.
As he troubled Manchester United playing on the wings of Lisbon, Fergie knew that he was staring at a worldly sensation in the making. Ronaldo came, he saw and he conquered. The first six seasons for Manchester United saw him blasting 84 goals from 196 appearances before he left Old Trafford for a staggering fee to join Real Madrid. That transfer helped Los Merengues to reach the ace of the world and bag the bragging rights of the last decade. Finally after 12 years away from the Theatre of Dreams, Ronaldo decided to leave Juventus to join the Premier League. Even until morning, United’s city rivals, Manchester City were the firm favourites to land CR7. However, a call in the afternoon with Fergie completely changed the dynamics of the move and six hours later, Old Trafford and the Manchester United fans across the globe were in a delirious frenzy of celebrations of the king’s homecoming.
