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Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes it would be a mistake for Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford.
While admitting that Ronaldo was ‘possibly the biggest talent’ he had ever played with, Neville says the club should be looking to the future rather than the past, and instead try to sign Gareth Bale.
‘‘I’m not sure it’s such a good thing for Cristiano to come back,’’ Neville told the Sunday People. ‘‘The emotion says come back but do you remember when Newcastle used to bring back their old players to be manager?
‘‘And then Liverpool started doing it and I thought No. Let’s not start becoming a club like that and this kind of pining for the past. I don’t really want that.’’
Ronaldo signed for Manchester United in 2003 and spent six successful years at the Red Devils, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League among a host of other team and individual accolades, before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009.
While the 30-year-old has repeatedly stated he is happy at Real Madrid at the moment, he has refused to rule out a return to Manchester United in the future.
Neville, however, says an emotional return would be the wrong move for both player and club.
‘‘I’d prefer us to get Gareth Bale and that’s no disrespect to Cristiano who I think is possibly the biggest talent I’ve ever played with – not the best player I ever played with – but the biggest talent,’’ Neville added.
‘‘He’s an amazing player and what he did for two years at United was out of this world and it was a privilege to be part of it. But the idea of coming back as his swansong… it won’t be the same for him as it was before.
‘‘He does like warm weather. He likes the sun and we know that from when he was here. That’s not a criticism of him, he was just used to that.
‘‘It will not be the same for him as it was before but it won’t be the same for us and I’m not sure. It would be about emotion. And I’m not sure emotion and sport go together really in that way.’’
Ronaldo is currently having a short break as Portugal have already qualified for Euro 2016, and will be in action next Saturday against Barcelona. – Dailyonline
Online Reporter