Rio Ferdinand hopes to see Cristiano Ronaldo back at Manchester United

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 20 June 2017

Rio Ferdinand is hopeful that former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo will swap Real Madrid for Manchester United, but is unsure whether anything will come of the speculation.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he would love to see Cristiano Ronaldo return to the club, but doubts that the transfer will go ahead.

Real Madrid superstar Ronaldo is rumoured to have grown frustrated at the Bernabeu after being asked to pay back around £13m in unpaid taxes to the Spanish authorities.

Speculation is rife that the Portugal international has his eyes set on United, who could potentially be willing to pay up his hefty asking price and wages in full.

Ferdinand, who is still close to the 32-year-old following their time together at Old Trafford, is unsure whether anything will come of the ongoing talk.

"I hope [he'll return]. I'm a Man United fan, and my kids love him, so I hope that he'll be back," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Star. "But will he leave Real Madrid? I don't know."

Real president Florentino Perez expects Ronaldo to remain in the Spanish capital next season, with reports suggesting that the club will pay off his outstanding debts in an attempt to keep him happy.