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Simon Stone in MANCHESTER
A FULL hour after referee Anthony Taylor had blown the final whistle on Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-goal return to Manchester United, the euphoria around Old Trafford was still hard to escape.
Hundreds of fans opted not to leave the stadium until the club answered their demand and brought Ronaldo out for his TV interview commitments.
His acknowledgement triggered more cheers and another airing of the “Viva Ronaldo’’ chant it had been impossible to escape around the stadium from mid-morning.
Outside, a supporter, well into his 20s, showed off to a mate by attempting the Portuguese’s distinctive spin celebration.
These moments, and indeed those that followed on the pitch a few hours later, are the reason Manchester United swooped to re-sign the Portugal captain.
The effort from so many senior figures to get Ronaldo back to the club from Juventus — and keep him out of Manchester City’s clutches — was not really with a home win over Newcastle in mind.
But the joyous spin-off from victory against a side who have won once at Old Trafford since 1972 is light years away from the angry scenes at the same place just over four months ago, when the game with Liverpool was postponed amid furious fan protests.
Ronaldo’s arrival has fuelled optimism at levels rarely seen since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
“He is a legend, the epitome of everything you know about football. We don’t talk now about people like Pele and Maradona. These guys proved their talent at the time but belong in a museum now. In the modern times, is it Ronaldo? Is it Messi? Who is the greatest scorer in the Champions League? Ronaldo. Most goals in international football? Ronaldo. He broke records at every level. It is Ronaldo.”
It is just before 10am and I am chatting to Jan, a Manchester United fan, initially from Angola but who now lives in Beswick — very much Manchester City territory.
He has a ticket for the Newcastle game but wanted to come to Old Trafford early to get a Ronaldo scarf and make sure he is properly kitted out for when he returns for the match.
A couple of hours later and the numbers have swelled, from hundreds to thousands.
The “Viva Ronaldo’’ chant rumbles down Warwick Road from the Trafford Pub past the cricket ground that should have been hosting India, all the way to the Metrolink stop.
Grey-haired men were proudly walking towards the football ground wearing Manchester United’s distinctive red shirt with the famous ‘’Ronaldo 7’’ on the back.
His appearance for the warm-up was accompanied by a wave of acknowledgement.
His first touch, first goal, second goal, exit after the final whistle and his re-appearance for that interview — all triggered Ronaldo adulation.
It was almost as though the four Champions Leagues, four league titles and four Ballons d’Or he has won since leaving the club in 2009, were somehow part of his Manchester United legacy.
It is not true of course.
Indeed, at the age of 36, he has been signed to bring exactly that kind of silverware back to Old Trafford.
The road will be long and — specifically in the form of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool — there are some major obstacles in the way.
But, in addressing his new team-mates as a collective on Friday and by being at the centre of the celebration for the team’s other goals against Newcastle — scored by Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard — Ronaldo seemed to be saying ‘’it’s not all about me.’’
This was though.
And, the Manchester United fans lucky enough to be there to watch really enjoyed it. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter