MU unexpectedly sends a signal to Ronaldo

Man Utd has delivered a special message to Cristiano Ronaldo amid the superstar’s troubles in Saudi Arabia.

Today, February 5th, Cristiano Ronaldo officially celebrates his 41st birthday. On this special occasion, Man Utd’s social media channels extended birthday wishes to the legend who once graced Old Trafford.

Specifically, Man Utd posted images of Ronaldo in the red jersey from two periods: 2003–2009 and 2021–2022, accompanied by the caption "Happy birthday, Cristiano!". This gesture shows that the "Red Devils" still hold respect and care for Ronaldo, despite the Portuguese star having been away from top European football for over three years.

Cristiano Ronaldo experienced one of the brightest phases of his career while spending six years at Man Utd, from 2003 to 2009. During this time, the 1985-born forward helped the club secure numerous major titles, including three Premier League championships, one Champions League trophy, and one FIFA Club World Cup. Man Utd’s environment played a crucial role in Ronaldo’s growth from a promising young talent into a world-class star, ranking among the best players of that era.

Also wearing the "Red Devils" shirt, Ronaldo reached the pinnacle of fame by winning his first Ballon d’Or in 2008. In the summer of 2021, CR7 made a surprising return to Old Trafford, but this reunion did not end as happily as hoped. Ultimately, Ronaldo’s journey with Man Utd concluded in November 2022 when both parties mutually agreed to terminate the contract.

Recently, rumors about the possibility of Ronaldo’s third return to Man Utd have intensified, fueled by conflicts between him and Al Nassr’s management as well as the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The Portuguese superstar is reportedly unhappy with the club’s lackluster transfer activity, as Al Nassr only signed Haydeer Abdulkareem and suspended the sporting director Simao Coutinho and CEO Jose Semedo from their duties.

In contrast to Al Nassr, their fierce rivals Al Hilal have been very active in the transfer market, acquiring several quality players. Amid this situation, Ronaldo’s future remains uncertain, with speculation that he might leave the Middle East to return to Europe or move to MLS, where Lionel Messi is currently shining with Inter Miami.

Notably, so far Man Utd is the only former club to publicly wish Ronaldo a happy birthday. Meanwhile, other clubs closely connected to his career, such as Sporting Lisbon, Real Madrid, and Juventus, have yet to make any moves. Even Al Nassr, the club where CR7 currently plays and serves as captain, has shown no sign of acknowledging the star’s special day.