Manchester United's wantaway forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to make a return to boyhood club Sporting Lisbon by the club's B team coach.
The 37-year-old is reportedly willing to leave Old Trafford this summer, despite making an emotional return to the club from Juventus just last summer.
A desire to play Champions League football, as well as United's slow progress in the transfer market, are two of the reasons that the Portuguese star is said to see his future away from Manchester.
Moves to the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have all been tipped, but no side has yet come forward to secure the forward's signature as things stand.
However, a potential return to Portuguese side Sporting, from where United originally signed Ronaldo, has also been touted this summer, and Francisco Barao has claimed that a move will happen.
Speaking to Record, Barao said: "I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo will come."
Having finished runners-up to Porto in the Primeira Liga last season, Sporting can well offer Ronaldo Champions League football in the upcoming 2022-23 campaign, but it remains to be seen whether his boyhood club will be able to afford his wages.
Although, Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes has reportedly informed clubs of his client's willingness to take a pay cut in order to force through a move away from United.
Prior to the move to Manchester in 2003, Ronaldo scored five goals for Sporting during his breakthrough 2002-03 campaign at the club, having worked his way through the academy in Lisbon.
Matthew Tranter
