Apart From Alex Ferguson, This Official Played 'Big Role' In Ronaldo's Manchester United Return

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward reportedly played a big role in bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back at Old Trafford this summer.

Woodward, who is set to part ways with Manchester United at the end of this year, structured the deal for Ronaldo and ensured the club owners gave a green light, according to Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth.

"I’m told that Ed Woodward had a big role in this transfer. I’m told he structured the deal and ensured the owners could sanction that deal. Another person who played a part in this deal is an emotional one, it’s Sir Alex Ferguson. He made what’s not a famous phone call to Ronaldo last week to say 'get back to Manchester United'," Sheth was quoted by Football365, in a recent interview.

Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford at the beginning of his senior career. He moved from his home-based club Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United in 2003 and the rest is history. He netted 118 goals and provided 69 assists in 292 competitive appearances for the Red Devils as he helped the club win three consecutive Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.

The Portuguese skipper created a legacy as Manchester United's No. 7 and carried the same into Real Madrid when he joined the La Liga giants in 2009.

With Ronaldo's return to Manchester United, he is unlikely to get the No. 7 shirt as it currently belongs to Edinson Cavani.

Ronaldo, who netted a total of 551 club goals across stints with Real Madrid and Juventus after leaving Manchester United in 2009, admitted in an interview that now is the right moment for him to return.

"I have a fantastic history with this amazing club. I was there at 18 years old and of course, I’m so happy to be back home after 12 years. So I’m really glad and looking forward to starting my first game," Ronaldo told Manchester United's media.

Talking about his decision to return to Old Trafford, Ronaldo said, "I think it’s the best decision that I have made it. It’s right on point in my opinion. I moved from Juve now to Manchester, it’s a new chapter, I’m so happy and glad, and I want to carry on again, to make history, to try to help Manchester achieve great results, to win trophies and number one of them, to win great things."