Manchester United want to re-sign Old Trafford great Cristiano Ronaldo as the club intensifies its efforts to build a potentially title-winning squad.
M.E.N. Sport understands United are working on what could be a new club-record deal to bring Ronaldo back to Manchester six years after he joined Real Madrid for a world record £80m.
Although United have completed deals for Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, the club is determined to secure a marquee buy in the vein of Angel di Maria’s British record £59.7m arrival last year.
United explored the possibility of signing Ronaldo during David Moyes’ first transfer window in 2013, however the three-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a new contract until 2018.
"There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived," Moyes said last year. "We were close to getting a couple of major names."
Ronaldo, 30, is believed to be unhappy with the arrival of Rafael Benitez as Real coach, having publicly supported predecessor Carlo Ancelotti two days before he was sacked, and the Portuguese was left exasperated by instructions he would start as Real’s striker under Benitez, rather in his favoured role on the left flank.
Ronaldo was caught on camera ‘losing it’ with Rafa Benitez during a training session in Australia, where Real face Manchester City on Friday.
He appeared to lose his cool on two occasions - first when having a goal disallowed and then when being instructed to try to hit the crossbar during a drill.
Ronaldo is understood to be perplexed by Real's treatment of departing goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who issued a tearful farewell ahead of his transfer to Porto, and United target Sergio Ramos.
United are yet to submit a second bid for Ramos since Real rejected their £32m opening offer. Ramos and Ronaldo, as well as left-back Marcelo, are now the three longest-serving players at the Bernabeu.
A £12.24m buy from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 United games, won three Premier League titles, two League Cups, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Club World Cup.
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