BEFORE UNITED SIGNING CONFIRMED
UNITED FAN
Q: What would you feel about him coming back? "I think it would be amazing. To be honest,
I was just reading up on it, actually a minute ago. He is such a legend and obviously started
his career here. I remember watching him come on as a teenager. It'd be amazing to have him back in
the Premier League. After all, it all started here for him, I think it would be phenomenal.
Just that champion mentality. He's one of the best players in the world. Ballon d'Or winner,
multiple times. Having that mentality in the dressing room of a serial
winner. Will really spur us on this season. I think it'll be fantastic."
CITY FAN 1
"I wouldn't like that. I think he's still got plenty to offer."
Q: Do you think City missed a beat when they pulled out?
"Absolutely. Especially with losing out on [Harry] Kane as well.
That's a big blow for them this season. Q: What are you thinking about
him moving to Manchester United? "I think that his experience is vital,
his professionalism. He is world class still. You know, it's his age."
UNITED FAN 2
"It's good. Good luck. We call it. He was going to come back every single year, like he's rumoured
the whole time. This time kind of feels different. He's 36 now. We need a striker, if we don't get
one, we're not going to win the league, [Edinson] Cavani is not going to get you 25, 30 goals
in the league. I'm buzzing for Ronaldo to come." Q: Do you think City missed a beat by pulling out?
"Yeah, I think they should have got Kane. If they got Kane, they would have won the
Champions League as well the Premier League. Everything, I think at this moment in time.
Kane should have gone to United. We should have gotten Kane, but he costs a lot of money. So
I think Kane is better than Ronaldo, right now." Q: Anything particular Ronaldo adds?
"Everything; leadership, mentality, that mentality to win everything.
[Marcus] Rashford doesn't have that yet. [Mason] Greenwood doesn't have that yet.
[Jadon] Sancho doesn't even have that yet. Bruno [Fernandes] tries, but Bruno has never
won anything big. So he'll bring that leadership and mentality to win trophies that we need."
UNITED FAN 3 & CITY FAN 2:
CITY FAN: "I'm glad, he's rubbish." UNITED FAN: "I'm good. I'm a United fan, so I'm
pretty good. But we don't know yet do we? I don't know what's going to happen, if he is re-signed."
Q: And what do you think he will add to the team? UNITED FAN: "A lot. If he makes it. He's a
Red. He belongs to a Red, doesn't he? He belongs with a United kit on. That's why
City have pulled out. That's not where he belongs. He belongs to the Reds.
And that's it." Q: Do you
think that City missed a beat by pulling out? CITY FAN: "I don't think so, we will still win the
league, still win everything like usual. So I'm fully confident. It's alright for him to stay at
United, they need him, don't they? UNITED FAN: "Secretly he
is pretty heartbroken. I can tell." CITY FAN: "Yeah, I was crying this morning."
UNITED FAN 4
"Well, he's one of the greatest footballers ever. Why shouldn't we have him?
United are on the up! He's a great footballer. Get him back in. Fantastic."
Q: What does he add to the team? "Well, I think he'll bring flair,
pace. He's just an all round great footballer. So why not? Let's go for it. Get United back where
they belong. Top of the Premier League." Q: City missed a beat?
"Oh, I think City's missed a beat with Harry Kane. I think United's transfer approach this year has
been spot on, Ole's taken a couple of years. But we're getting there...Premier League champions."
CITY FAN 3:
"Thank goodness for that. What a waste of money he'd have been.
Way past his best. Sort of a selfish individual, doesn't play for the team. We're fortunate."
Q: City's missed a beat on Kane? "Harry Kane, at £150 million
was a better option than Ronaldo, simply because of his goals, and he'd be a focal point,
[whereas] Ronaldo is a player just for himself. A sole entity in a team,
he is not a team player himself. Never." Q: Worried about United re-signing him?
"I'd love that, let them waste their money. Let's keep our money, we're good."
CITY FAN 4:
"He's not suited for Manchester City, he doesn't fit in with our style of play, although he's a
fantastic footballer. I don't personally think he'll fit in with Pep's plans for City while Pep
is still in charge at Manchester City. So Ronaldo, although he's a great player, can play wherever
he wants to really. I don't think he's suited to us here at city. We can find better players of a
younger age to fill the gaps that we need." Q:United re-signing Ronaldo?
"Well, all of a sudden they seem to have billions of pounds to spend,
they've not spent for four years. So they spend it on the high-profile players. And I think they
should personally spend some money on the ground and improve their ground, true fans of United
would say the same. Ronaldo at his age, he's been a great, a great service to United, but carrying
on now. His age. I don't think he will. Again, a few games, he'll sell shirts, maybe two years and
maybe finish his career." Q: City disappointed?
"Not really. A lot of fans may have thought it was great. Have
a bit of banter and I'm sure they're doing the same at United if he does end up re-signing."
AFTER SIGNING CONFIRMED
*kids show shirt with number 7*
UNITED FAN 5:
"Fantastic signing. Don't know how I feel about all the talks about him signing for City, it
makes me feel, I don't know. Not so sure. Of course, he's a legend. I don't believe
that legends of the club need to be talked out of signing for Man City by players, past and present,
managers, past and present. I hope there was nothing in it. Some of my mates were saying
maybe he will play at City, maybe he was meant to play at City. I don't know. But it just sits a bit
uncomfortable with me knowing that talks were going on and he had said that he would be happy
to join once. But then again, I've heard that as soon as he heard United were interested,
he did it. We need him. Hopefully, if he's going to play his number nine role role,
out-and-out striker, and bang those goals in. We don't need a fancy player, we don't need a flash
player. We've got Sancho, we've got Fernandes to do that for us. We've got Pogba. He's staying.
So he's not involved in the deal. Yes, bang goals in; right foot, left foot, headers,
free kicks, penalties. That's all we need." Q: Exactly. They're going to be deadly from
free kicks anywhere within 35 yards? :Absolutely. I think if he can get
even 20, 30, might be a bit ambitious, 30 goals a season. We know he's capable of it.
Has he got a fitness to do it? We know he's a great pro. So why not?"
Q: So what do you think this does for the the Premier League and Champions League chances?
"I think it's a bit early to say, but definitely in the mix now with the draw yesterday,
probably the easiest draw we could have asked for, as far as the Champions League goes.
Great. First Premier League game against Leeds. So that should be a
stepping stone as to what we want to achieve. But definitely serious contenders for both, I think."
UNITED FAN 6
[On signing Ronaldo]"Amazing. Honestly, I think if you go back 24 hours
a lot of fans would have thought that he's on his way to Man City. That kind of thought of, oh God,
he can't go there. But the news just broke today. Unbelievable. Just blows everything
out of the water. The fact he's coming back to Manchester United regardless of his age.
Fantastic. I can't imagine anyone, any fan being disappointed by this news. Ronaldo's coming home."
[On him signing for City first] "But you got transfer speculation, don't you? So at the same
time, what was he ever considering going there? I think today there's been a big change. And the
fact he chose to come back to Manchester United. Personally, as a Red I'd say absolute mad to go
Manchester City. Boy, all he would have done is ruined his legacy with Manchester United,
everthing he's done, Champions League, you know, winning titles at Manchester United. If he'd end
up going to Manchester City, for me it would have ruined it for him. But to actually be coming home
to Manchester United. Massive, absolutely huge." [On ambitions this season] "I think it certainly
lays down a marker, a statement of intent. I know there'll be people looking raised eyebrows. He's
36 years old. For me, Ronaldo's a different animal, absolute beast of a player. I think
he can play on until he's in his 40s, coming back to the Premier League. Not an issue. He's got it
everywhere. He's gone. He's left Manchester United as a legend, went to Real Madrid,
All-Time top goal scorer, left a legend. Same at Juventus, ripped it up in Serie A. And now
he comes back to Manchester United. So I don't see it as a risk. Champions League-wise, it can only
boost United's chances of progressing because any team that's got Cristiano Ronaldo, you're
going to be much, much better and stronger." [On why he's special] "I think it's the fact
he's been able to reinvent himself as a player as well. You look at the way he started out
was a winger. I remember being at Old Trafford here 2003, his debut against Bolton. Coming on.
Nobody knew much about him. And we paid just over £12 million for him, unpredictable. Probably too
many step overs, he worked on his game. It got him to where he is now through hard work and
just a sensational talent."
UNITED FAN 7
"So first of all, what my thought is, I think Ronaldo coming to United is a big step for us. And
especially for what we're going to do for next season, especially after that draw
with Southampton, it's going to be a bit of a hard road from now. Personally, I think Ronaldo
is going to have that ego to boost United. I think we're going to go very well this season."
Q: Is it made sweeter by the fact he was signing for Man City this morning?
"Well, I'm not going to lie, Man City this morning, I was a bit angry.
I was reading everything online and then, boom, I was in the car straightaway, coming over
as soon as I heard that he was coming to United. Amazing. But for Man City, I was very annoyed.
I'll give you that. I was very annoyed. Q: We know he's a proven quality player, but
how many points do you reckon Ronaldo can add to this United side? Can they win the Premier League?
"Personally, I think especially with Varane and Jadon Sancho coming in and Ronaldo,
Man United and Ronaldo will push on to win the Premier League this season or next. I'm
very confident, I reckon we could." Q: And Champions League?
"We've got an easy group
we could be able to push on. I think maybe semi-finals upwards. I reckon we could."