Cristiano Ronaldo met up with Sir Alex Ferguson following his big return to Old Trafford last night.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was back at his old stomping ground and never seemed to stop smiling throughout.
He received a typically wonderful reception from his former supporters, who still hold him in very high regard despite him leaving for Real Madrid in a world-record move back in 2009.
As he said goodbye post-match, United fans could be heard singing the ‘Viva Ronaldo’ song they’ve belted out over on many occasions over the years.
Then, after the game, which Juventus won 1-0 courtesy of a first-half Paulo Dybala strike, the 33-year old linked up with the man who had the biggest influence on his glittering career.
“A great coach and above all a wonderful man,” Ronaldo wrote as his caption on Instagram, alongside a picture of the two.
“Taught me so many things inside and outside the pitch. Great to see you in good shape, Boss!”
Prior to the game, Ronaldo paid tribute to Fergie after he came through a serious health scare earlier this year.
“Here I have many memories of victories and affection and in particular with Sir Alex Ferguson, to whom I send a big hug,” Ronaldo said.
“He is someone I will never ever forget and I’d like to express my best possible wishes to him. He is a person who helped me so much.”
The pair had a unique and special relationship from the day an 18-year old Ronaldo walked through the door, with the Sporting CP youth product having one particular story that summed up their tight-knit bond.
When my daddy was sick in London and was in [the] hospital – very bad, in a coma – I had a conversation with him,” Ronaldo said in ‘Sir Alex Ferguson: Secrets of Success’.
“I said, ‘Boss, I don’t feel good.’
“We are in a key moment in the league and the Champions League, but I say, ‘Boss, I don’t feel good. I want to see my daddy.’
“He said: ‘Cristiano, you want to go one day, two days, one week, you can go. I’m going to miss you here because you know you are important. But your daddy is first.
“When he told me that, I thought, ‘This guy’s unbelievable.'”
sportbible.com
