Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP)

The return of the Devil prodigy!

Cristiano Ronaldo is reunited with Manchester United twelve years after continuing to cover himself in glory in nine seasons at Real Madrid and three at Juventus, who gave him away on Thursday at the club where he exploded.

ManU "are delighted," in a statement, "to confirm that the club have reached an agreement with Juventus for the transfer of" CR7, 36.

Admittedly, the transfer is "still subject to an agreement on the terms of the contract, the obtaining of a visa and the medical green light", specified the "Red Devils", but they managed to "repatriate" their former star .

The transfer revolves around 15 million euros plus bonuses for a salary of around 25 million euros annually, according to various media.

If the rumors sent him these last days towards the rival and neighbor, City, Cristiano Ronaldo finds well the reds of Manchester.

After Lionel Messi at Paris SG and while waiting perhaps for Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid, it is one of the most resounding transfers of the summer which was completed in just a few hours.

The top scorer in the history of the Champions League with 134 goals began his journey to the stars there, after a first professional year at Sporting Portugal.

- He didn't want to stay at Juve -

The Madeira player arrived at Old Trafford at 18, fiercely wanted by Alex Ferguson, for EUR 15m at the time.

The Portuguese Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo, next to his coach Alex Ferguson, during the 2nd half of the Champions League group match against Proto, February 25, 2004 in Porto NICOLAS ASFOURI AFP / Archives

Cristiano Ronaldo had caught the eye of the Scottish master and his close guard during a friendly match against Sporting on August 6, 2003, won 3-1 by the Lisbon Lions for the inauguration of the new Alvalade stadium.

He was then a dribbler wisp, already wearing the number 7, mythical to MU, on the back of George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham ...

He gradually grew physically and then became a goal machine, an ogre of statistics, to win his first Champions League and his first Ballon d'Or, the same year (2008).

Portuguese Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his Ballon d'Or on December 7, 2008 in Boulogne-Billancourt FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

If he misses his shot on goal in the final against Chelsea, in Moscow, it is Ronaldo who opens the scoring (1-1, 6-5 tab).

Striker Cristiano Ronaldo lifts the Champions League trophy after Manchester United's victory against Chelsea after extra time (1-1, 6-5 tab), May 21, 2008 in Moscow ADRIAN DENNIS AFP / Archives

Just over 13 years later, the Portugal captain didn't want to stay at Juve anymore.

Predicted by Inter in the league last year, Cristiano Ronaldo has never succeeded in his real mission: to win the Champions League again, a fifth for him, a third for the "Old Lady" who is struggling in this quest with five finals lost since his last victory in 1995.

- Reunion -

With "CR7", Juve failed in the quarter then twice in the round of 16.

She never made a return on her heavy investment, 105 M EUR for the transfer and the salary of the five-time Ballon d'Or.

Despite everything, the 2016 European champion considers having "achieved a goal that I had set myself since the first day of my arrival in Italy: to win the championship, the Cup and the Super Cup, and also to be voted best and best player. scorer in this great football country filled with great players, great clubs, "he confided at the end of the season on Instagram.

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with the Italian Supercup, after the victory of Juventus Turin against Atalanta Bergamo, on May 19, 2021 in Reggio Emilie Miguel MEDINA AFP / Archives

A publication that already sounded almost like a farewell for someone who walks in the challenge.

On Friday, he reaffirmed on Instagram that he and Juve had "achieved great things, not all of the things [they wanted], but [they still had] written a great story together".

"The + tifosi + have always respected me and I tried to thank them by giving my best in every game, every season, every competition."

He will now have to blend in with the United collective, coached by his former team-mate, Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer, who ended his career when CR7 started his own.

The Norwegian and the Portuguese have spent four seasons together at Old Trafford.

Portuguese Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mate and future club coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the Premier League home game against Wigan on December 26, 2006 at Old Trafford Stadium PAUL ELLIS AFP / Archives

With his future teammates, the contact looks good.

"Wow wow wow he's home," MU's young frontman Marcus Rashford wrote on Twitter.

"Welcome home" posted his Portugal team partner Bruno Fernandes.

Ronaldo reunites with another Portuguese international, Diogo Dalot, and French world champion Raphaël Varane, with whom he played at Real.

With this hellish rookie, Solskjaer has a royal choice in attack, alongside Edinson Cavani, Rashford, Jadon Sancho or Anthony Martial.

Roll on the great return of the prodigy son!

© 2021 AFP