Van Gaal admits Manchester United would target Ronaldo, doubts Real Madrid would sell
Who wouldn't want one of the most prolific goal scorers in the world to join their squad?
That's the attitude Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal took when asked about the possible return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club that nurtured the Portuguese star after he arrived as a teenager.
“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,” Van Gaal told reporters ahead of his team's Premier League match against Leicester City.
Real Madrid's transfer policy has been a point of contention for the footballer of the year. Ronaldo is reportedly angered by the team's failure to involve him in the decision making process when it comes to selling players during the transfer period.
Ronaldo added fuel to the fire this summer when he cryptically spoke of his fondness for Manchester United.
“I love Manchester and you never know in football," Ronaldo told MUTV during United's tour in the United States. "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."
The season is only a month old and speculation about Ronaldo's return to England is only going to grow.