Cristiano Ronaldo set for Old Trafford return - and could play against Lionel Messi at home of Manchester United

Friendly between Portugal and Argentina arranged for next month

Simon Rice
Tuesday 07 October 2014 17:03 BST
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Manchester United fans welcome Ronaldo back to Old Trafford in 2013
Manchester United fans welcome Ronaldo back to Old Trafford in 2013 (GETTY IMAGES)

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Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to play at Old Trafford next month for just the second time since he left Manchester United.

The friendly between Portugal and Argentina scheduled for November 18 should also see the £80m player come up against his great rival - Lionel Messi.

Manchester United are yet to officially confirm the fixture as the club seeks to boost their profile in Argentina. The arrivals of Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo over the summer have already gone some way to boosting the club's brand in the football-mad South American country.

Since leaving for Real Madrid in 2009, Ronaldo has only returned once, in a Champions League tie in March 2013. The Ballon d'Or received an emotional reception from fans at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ronaldo at Old Trafford in 2013
Ronaldo at Old Trafford in 2013 (GETTY IMAGES)

Should he feature in the game, which comes quick off the heels of the El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid on October 26, it will also provide an opportunity for fans to show Ronaldo how much they would welcome him back.

Speculation has been rife over a possible return to Manchester United for Ronaldo, with Louis van Gaal recently revealing he would be interested in a deal. However, it's understood that the financial implications of bringing Ronaldo back could be too much for Manchester United.

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