Manchester United boss speaks about possible Ronaldo return

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says Cristiano Ronaldo is a player any manager would want but has distanced the Red Devils from a move for their former star.

Ronaldo’s long-term future at Real Madrid is uncertain beyond the end of the current campaign following his struggles on and off the field this term.

The 32-year-old has struggled to rediscover his best goalscoring form for Madrid this season, while there are also murmurs of discontent off the field.

Ronaldo was reportedly promised a bumper new deal after Madrid won the Champions League last season and Florentino Perez is yet to deliver on that.

The Madrid president is understood to have even told Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, to find a new club for the Portugal international with a return to Old Trafford at the top of the player’s wish list.

Ronaldo left United in 2009 for a then-world record £80m fee and has been regular linked with a return since then.

United have often been used as a chess piece for Ronaldo to broker a bigger contract at Madrid and Mourinho has distanced the club from current speculation.

“I think with the moment Real Madrid is having now, I think I should be the last one to add some fuel to the fire,” The Daily Mirror quote Mourinho as saying on Friday.

“Madrid is on fire, the results are not good and it’s a club where I worked three years, I care about the club, and I am the last one to add fire.

“So, to put some water on the fire, Cristiano is the kind of player every manager and club wants, but he is a player for [Zinedine] Zidane and Real Madrid, that’s my feeling.”

Ronaldo has only scored six league goals from 101 shots in La Liga this season, boosting a conversation rate of just 5.9%.

At this stage last season, the Madrid No.7 had 12 goals in 14 appearances.