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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="footballco-bet-betsense">{"type":"footballco-bet-betsense","data":{}}</script><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_d6e1e5da-7d9a-43d5-97e1-f4350a3cd7e3"}}</script><ul><li>Returned to Old Trafford in 2021</li><li>Hit 24 goals in first season back</li><li>Acrimonious exit as a free agent</li></ul>

'I did unbelievable things' - Boasting Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he was 'amazing' in second spell at Man Utd

Premier League

Manchester City

Manchester United

<p>The Portuguese superstar returned to what was considered to be a spiritual home in the summer of 2021 when severing ties with Juventus. He was welcomed back to Old Trafford with open arms, with his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-how-man-utd-stopped-cristiano-ronaldo-beautiful-goals/blt240cffb1b8f2e4e0" target="_blank">first steps towards becoming a global icon and all-time great</a> having been taken in English football.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>There was to be no repeat of the Premier League and Champions League triumphs from his first spell, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-on-purpose-man-utd-exit-strategy-stam-handled-better/blt9b32129c6b01c4a3" target="_blank">released as a free agent in November 2022</a> after falling out with manager Erik ten Hag and conducting an <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-finished-claims-rubbished-piers-morgan-brands-man-utd-boss-erik-ten-hag-complete-idiot/blt50187fc1e92ea8e3" target="_blank">explosive interview with TV presenter Piers Morgan</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>While a rekindling of sporting passion did not play out as planned, CR7 believes he delivered on his remit. He has told Rio Ferdinand on his new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAz6enaA9nE  " target="_blank"><em>'UR Cristiano' YouTube channel</em></a>: “When I’m back there, I was very happy. I was one of the best scorers, I did unbelievable things with the club – my first season with 24 [goals], I was the third best scorer of the league. In the group stage [of the Champions League] I scored in every game. Even in the league I scored 18 goals. I did amazing. But Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they said a few days ago that they cannot compete to win the league and the Champions League. You cannot say that as a Manchester United coach. You have to be mentally saying, 'maybe we don’t have the potential but I can’t say that'. You have to try. This club needs time to rebuild because it is still one of the best clubs in the world.”</p>

WHAT RONALDO SAID

<p>United helped to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nothing-like-david-beckham-how-scrawny-erratic-cristiano-ronaldo-frustrated-man-utd-turning-into-machine/blt9934a6faed648165" target="_blank">transform Ronaldo into the player he is today</a>, with Sir Alex Ferguson <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldos-rise-circus-jibe-van-nistelrooy-ferdinand-man-utd/1ke6skb8zhhdg1k3w8b9yvel1k" target="_blank">moulding a tricky winger into one of the most fearsome goalscorers</a> the world has ever seen. Explaining how that process was completed, Ronaldo said: “I realised that the goals, for our positions, it’s more important than f*cking stepovers – which is good, I know. Showboats, you remember, is nice. It’s chapters that you have in your life and you realise that things that you do, it’s not worth it anymore.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Ronaldo initially joined United in 2003, before leaving in 2009 for Real Madrid and going on to become their all-time leading scorer. He made 54 appearances in total during his second stint with the Red Devils, finding the target on 27 occasions, and still holds a special place in the heart of many supporters at Old Trafford.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

'I did unbelievable things' - Boasting Cristiano Ronaldo thinks he was 'amazing' in second spell at Man Utd | Goal.com US

Cristiano Ronaldo claims he did “unbelievable things” during his second spell at Manchester United, with an “amazing” assessment being delivered.