Peter Drury’s commentary on Ronaldo’s Man Utd homecoming is so sad to hear now
Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer a Manchester United player.
The club released a statement on Tuesday evening confirming that they had agreed to terminate the 37-year-old’s contract by mutual consent.
An Old Trafford exit had seemed inevitable for Ronaldo ever since the first clips of his explosive tell-all interview with Piers Morgan emerged earlier this month.
Few at the club were safe from criticism as the player took savage aim at United boss Erik ten Hag, the owners, and members of the playing squad.
Ronaldo even made a swipe at the club’s catering staff.
Although the five-time Ballon d’Or winner released a statement on social media professing his love for the club and its fans following the news, there’s no denying that this won’t have been the way he saw his Old Trafford career ending when he returned to United from Juventus in August 2021.
An international break meant that Ronaldo had to wait a couple of weeks for his second United debut but the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ was absolutely bouncing to welcome back its prodigal son as the Red Devils took on Newcastle in the Premier League.
It was a historic occasion and – true to form – legendary commentator Peter Drury narrated Ronaldo’s return to perfection.
As the Portuguese superstar made his way out into the stadium on September 11, 2001 – serenaded by 70,000 United fans – Drury paid tribute to him in his own unmistakable style.
Video: Peter Drury’s commentary for Ronaldo’s Man Utd homecoming was simply perfect
Peter Drury’s commentary on Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United will always give me goosebumps. pic.twitter.com/CxRlm2tXGb
— Paddy Keogh (@OddsOnFPL) May 5, 2022
“It is Ronaldo. Manchester United. The Theatre is living its dream.
“Madeira, Manchester, Madrid, Turin & Manchester again. Reeved in Red. Restored to this great gallery of the game.
“A walking work of art. Vintage, beyond valuation, beyond forgery or imitation, eighteen years since that trembling teenager of touch and tease, first tiptoed on to the historic stage, now in his immaculate maturity, now CR7 reunited.”
A goosebump-inducing masterpiece from arguably the greatest commentator ever.
After such a grand introduction, it was over to Ronaldo to deliver on the pitch.
He more than lived up to the script, scoring twice in a 4-1 win, sending Old Trafford absolutely mental.
In hindsight, Ronaldo never really managed to live up to the considerable promise of his second debut for United.
There was a genuine sense of electricity in the air as the Red Devils’ fanbase welcomed back a genuine club legend.
It’s tough not to feel a little sad at how things turned out for Ronaldo a little over a year later when watching the clip back.
His second stint at the club wasn’t a total failure by any means.
