Fernandes: Ronaldo's second Man Utd debut still gives me goosebumps

Bruno Fernandes described the day Cristiano Ronaldo made his second debut for Manchester United against Newcastle United as "unforgettable". 

Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in August 2021 after a three-year stint with Serie A giants Juventus, 12 years after departing the Red Devils for Real Madrid. 

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored twice in a 4-1 win over Newcastle on debut, and in doing so, became the oldest player to net a double in a Premier League match since Graham Alexander for Burnley against Hull in April 2010, aged 36 years and 218 days. 

Ronaldo also broke Damien Delaney's record (11y 155d, 2002-13) for the biggest gap between English top-flight appearances, with the Portugal international playing for United 12 years and 118 days since his previous game in May 2009.

He scored his first Premier League goals for United since May 2009 (v Man City), with his gap of 12 years and 124 days between goals is the second-longest between two strikes by any player in the competition's history, after Matt Jackson (13y 187d, 1993-2006).

Asked about players he looked up to in a round-table interview on the club's official website, Fernandes said: "Cristiano is an easy one for me.

"He is Portuguese and everyone from 2000 – I was born in 1994 – from that age upwards, everyone was looking at him and seeing him.

"He won the Ballon d'Or with the club, which was something special. All the fans here, when he comes back, will never forget that day, when he came back against Newcastle.

"It was an unforgettable day. He comes back, scores two goals and looks like he never left and everything.

"The atmosphere in the stadium was crazy that day, probably the best one I have experienced.

"Just the fact of Cristiano coming back, not the rest, but what was created around that, him getting onto the pitch, everything gives goosebumps still to me."

During his second spell with the Red Devils, Ronaldo scored 27 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions, a total only bettered by Tottenham duo Son Heung-min (28) and Harry Kane (38), as well as Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (44) among Premier League players. 

Ronaldo's contract was terminated in November 2022 following a fall-out with Erik ten Hag, saying he felt "betrayed" by the former United boss during their time together. 

He went on to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, where he recently made his 100th league appearance for the club, netting 97 times.