The former Red Devil appeared to be apologetic after scoring the decisive goal in Real Madrid’s Champions League last 16 victory at Old Trafford on Tuesday night
By Greg Stobart at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo has left the door open for a return to Manchester United after firing Real Madrid in to the Champions League quarter-finals on a “very emotional” night at Old Trafford.
Real Madrid knocked Sir Alex Ferguson’s side out of Europe’s elite competition on Tuesday night with a 3-2 aggregate victory thanks to Ronaldo’s second-half strike on his first game at Old Trafford since his world record £80 million transfer in 2009.
Ronaldo received a hero’s reception from the home crowd and admitted it was a night of mixed emotions against his former club – who he has refused to rule out representing again despite insisting he is happy in Spain.
Ronaldo said: “The future you never know but the supporters here [at United] and the club, it’s massive. The future you never know but at this moment I’m very happy at Real Madrid and I want to be here.
“It was an unbelievable night. It was very emotional. What the supporters did for me was massive, I’m never going to forget this moment. I don’t have words for it.
“On one hand I’m happy for Madrid to go through but on the other side I’m sad because it’s not easy to forget. This was my home for six years, the people were very nice with me. I came here as a child.
“It’s quite strange – in both games I felt a little shy in my game. It’s a feeling you cannot explain – it’s just a feeling. I support and I am with the white collar, so these feelings stay in this stadium, the Theatre of Dreams.”
“I went to the dressing room to speak to all the players, to the coach, to the president, to the Glazers.”
Real Madrid booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory on the night having drawn 1-1 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Ronaldo got los Blancos’ goal.
It completed an excellent week for the Spanish giants in which they beat bitter rivals Barcelona twice in four days, first in the Copa del Rey and then La Liga.
“It was an unbelievable week,” Ronaldo added. “We won both games against Barcelona and now Manchester United. It was great. We are in good shape, we want to carry on like that because we want to try to win this competition.”