Spain — Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo says he will not celebrate if he scores against Manchester United.
Report by BBC Sport
United will face Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League at the Bernabeu on February 13 and then at Old Trafford on March 5 following Thursday’s draw.
“I won’t celebrate if I score,” Ronaldo, who spent six years with the Reds said.
“It is thanks to Manchester United that I play for Real Madrid. Without them, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”
The draw means Ronaldo (27) will visit Old Trafford for the first time since his £80m move to Spain in June 2009.
Ronaldo joined United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and went on to win three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his spell in England.
“I still speak with [United manager] Sir Alex Ferguson. I miss him a lot, and I miss Manchester United,” added Ronaldo.
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“I felt very good there, it was like a family. I had six great years there and am still friends with my team-mates.”
United boss Ferguson is convinced Ronaldo’s stellar spell would see him cheered by supporters, despite the fact that Ronaldo had long agitated for a move to the Bernabeu while at the club.
“He will get a great reception when he comes onto the pitch at Old Trafford, quite rightly,” said Ferguson “After that they [the supporters] can boo him as much as they like.
“We are proud of the part we played in his career. We did very well to get six years out of a boy when he came to us at the age of 17.”
He added: “He always had a hankering to go to Real Madrid at some point in his career. It wasn’t disloyalty. I got another year out of him when he wanted to go the previous year.
“My way of looking at it was that we were lucky to have him for six years. The United fans would share that.”
Ronaldo’s record of 118 goals in 292 appearances has seen him considered one of the best buys of Ferguson’s 26-year spell with United, a view that the Scot was happy to agree with.
Ronaldo at Manchester United Premier League record: 84 goals in 196 appearances
FA Cup record: 13 goals in 26 appearances
League Cup record: Four goals in 12 appearances
Champions League record: 16 goals in 55 appearances
Record from other matches: One goal in three appearances
