Skip to content

Cristiano Ronaldo still hearts Manchester United

Dec 21, 2012, 9:25 AM EDT

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo leads th

Real Madrid wiz Cristiano Ronaldo says he enjoyed his six years around Old Trafford, the time spent as a Manchester United man under Sir Alex Ferguson.

So he will honor the soccer tradition of not celebrating should he score against his old club in the coming Champions League Round of 16.

Real Madrid and Manchester United is the top matchup in the Round of 16 draw conducted Thursday in Switzerland, dripping with subplots. There’s also the old Jose Mourinho vs. Ferguson rivalry, plus the fact that one of these Euro heavies will fail to find the Champions League quarterfinals.

What Ronaldo told the Spanish newspaper AS:

I won’t celebrate if I score against United. I still speak with Ferguson. I miss him a lot, and I miss Manchester United. I felt very good there, it was like a family.

“I had six great years there and am still friends with my teammates. It is thanks to Manchester United that I am here playing for Real Madrid. Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

They did share some good times together, didn’t they? Ronaldo cut ties with Old Trafford in 2009, making the big move to Real Madrid.

While at Manchester United, Ronaldo and the Red Devils claimed three Premier League titles and one Champions League crown.

MORE: Real Madrid loss forces consideration of unthinkable

Latest Posts
  1. Federico Higuain steals the show for Columbus in a win over Toronto

    May 18, 2013, 7:38 PM EDT

    higuain-4

    Higuain created the game’s only goal and was masterful in possession at BMO Field:

  2. PSG president confirms Saturday was likely David Beckham’s farewell match

    May 18, 2013, 6:44 PM EDT

    REUTERS PICTURE HIGHLIGHT Reuters

    An appearance next week in Paris Saint-Germain’s final match 2012-13 season doesn’t seem to be in the plans for the retiring superstar:

  3. Did David Beckham just play his farewell match?

    May 18, 2013, 5:32 PM EDT

    FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-PSG-BREST

    Video: Reports out of England say today was the former England captain’s final match, rather than next week as expected:

  4. As Alex Ferguson says goodbye, Manchester United’s cupboard remains stocked

    May 18, 2013, 3:15 PM EDT

    Manchester United's Kagawa celebrates his goal against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match in Manchester Reuters

    Depth at United will allow David Moyes to hut big game this offseason.

  5. Wherein MLS expansion becomes the new David Beckham transfer rumor

    May 18, 2013, 2:40 PM EDT

    David Beckham, Don Garber

    David Beckham’s not dropping off your radar anytime soon.

  6. French soccer trying to deal with the coming AS Monaco problem

    May 18, 2013, 2:01 PM EDT

    1198px-Monaco_in_Europe_(-rivers_-mini_map)

    Before Monaco takes on Europe, they have to convince French soccer.

  7. Roberto Mancini takes out full page thank you ad in Manchester Evening News

    May 18, 2013, 1:17 PM EDT

    mancini-ad-3870078

    Manchester City’s former boss reaches out to his supportive fan base – his first public comments since his Monday dismissal.

  8. Bayern Munich finish German season 25 points ahead of Borussia Dortmund

    May 18, 2013, 12:28 PM EDT

    FBL-GER-BUNDESLIGA-MOENCHENGLADBACH-BAYERN-MUNICH Getty Images

    Mercifully, the season’s come to an end for the 17 clubs who tried to keep pace with Bayern Munich.

  9. Ferguson, on Mancini’s Manchester City dismissal: ‘It is quite amazing’

    May 18, 2013, 11:40 AM EDT

    A combination of file pictures created o

    Manchester United’s outgoing boss was amazed but not surprised at his rival’s dismissal.

  10. England’s top four: Games that matter in the English Premier League’s last round

    May 18, 2013, 10:22 AM EDT

    Barclays-Premier-League1

    Relegation’s decided. So’s the title and two of the league’s Europa League spots. All that’s left? The battle for top four.

  11. Radamal Falcao and the specter of AS Monaco

    May 18, 2013, 9:16 AM EDT

    Radamel Falcao AP

    Russian oligarchs, third-party ownership, tax havens, and €60 million moves. This one has everything.

  12. Jamie Carragher set to close out his 16-year career at Anfield

    May 18, 2013, 8:11 AM EDT

    Jamie Carragher AP

    One of the Premier League’s one-club men says goodbye at Anfield.

  13. More goofball MLS scheduling this weekend

    May 17, 2013, 7:32 PM EDT

    MLS logo

    Wait a doggone minute! Didn’t Philadelphia and Chicago just play?

  14. David Beckham and PSG prep for final two stops

    May 17, 2013, 6:45 PM EDT

    Paris Saint-Germain FC v Olympique de Marseille - Ligue 1 Getty Images

    Brest and FC Lorient will be the opposition for retiring midfielder’s final two pro matches:

  15. Landon Donovan + Robbie Keane = getting it done

    May 17, 2013, 5:35 PM EDT

    Donovan-Keane 2

    Something we should fold into the ongoing Landon Donovan-U.S. national team debate:

  16. Connecting false dots on Chivas USA

    May 17, 2013, 5:10 PM EDT

    David Beckham Getty Images

    David Beckham has an option to purchase an MLS expansion franchise, and that has zero to do with Chivas USA:

  17. MLS All-Star update; who will the league stars play?

    May 17, 2013, 4:52 PM EDT

    The Cauldron

    We know that Major League Soccer’s All-Star match is headed to Sporting Park in Kansas City this year – but we remain in the dark about the opposition:

  18. NWSL Game of the Week: Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FC

    May 17, 2013, 4:02 PM EDT

    Alex Morgan of the U.S. celebrates her goal against Germany during the Algarve Women's Soccer Cup final match Reuters

    Coming off their first loss of the season, the Portland Thorns host the suddenly dangerous Washington Spirit.

  19. MLS Preview: Colorado Rapids at San Jose Earthquakes

    May 17, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT

    Chris Wondolowski;  Marvin Chavez;  Steven Lenhart; Victor Bernardez

    Can San Jose bounce back against a solid Colorado outfit?

Top 10 Player Searches
  1. T. Young (NFL)
  2. D. Rose (NBA)
  3. C. Woodson (NFL)
  4. B. Harper (MLB)
  5. S. Curry (NBA)