Cristiano Ronaldo smiling during his second spell at Manchester United
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in 2022, it wasn’t the fairy-tale ending fans imagined. Instead, it was a stormy exit — fiery interviews, broken relationships, and an awkward silence that followed. But now, former United coach Benni McCarthy thinks it’s time for the legend to get the proper goodbye he truly deserves.
McCarthy, who was part of Erik ten Hag’s technical team during the Ronaldo saga, recently spoke to BestBettingSites.co.uk and said what many fans have been thinking:
“It wasn’t a fitting exit for such an unbelievable, world-class player. He deserves a proper farewell from Manchester United.”
Let’s rewind a bit. Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021 with fanfare and fireworks. He even scored a brace on his debut against Newcastle — classic CR7 stuff. But things started to go downhill after Ten Hag’s arrival. From the infamous walk down the tunnel during a Tottenham game to that explosive interview with Piers Morgan, everything spiraled quickly.
After that interview, Ronaldo’s contract was terminated, and he headed to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Nassr. According to McCarthy, the superstar left so abruptly that he never got the chance to say goodbye to his teammates or the staff.
“After that interview dropped, he just left — and we never saw him again,” McCarthy revealed. “A friendly against Al-Nassr could be a perfect way for him to reconnect with United fans and teammates. He deserves that.”
It’s an interesting idea — Manchester United facing Al-Nassr in a high-profile friendly, with Ronaldo finally returning to the Theatre of Dreams. Not just as an opponent, but as a legend getting the farewell he missed out on.
And honestly, fans would love it. No matter how things ended, Ronaldo’s legacy at United remains untouched. He was the spark that made millions fall in love with the club again, and the memories he created can’t be erased.
So, if this friendly does happen, expect emotions, nostalgia, and maybe even a few tears. After all, legends like Cristiano Ronaldo deserve to be celebrated — not just remembered.
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