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How Manchester United could line up with Cristiano Ronaldo

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's blockbuster return to Manchester United, Sports Mole looks at how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could line up with the 36-year-old.

Manchester United have pulled off one of the biggest footballing returns of all time by bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford after 12 years away.

The Red Devils confirmed on Friday that they have agreed terms on a deal to re-sign their former number seven from Juventus.

Ronaldo had been closing in on a move to local rivals Manchester City just hours before Man United confirmed the deal, completing a whirlwind hijacking of the 36-year-old's destination.

Man United supporters will now be licking their lips at the prospect of seeing Ronaldo wear their red shirt once again as he joins a side which finished second last season and has already been bolstered by the likes of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane this summer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men will be regarded among the favourites to win the Premier League title as a result, with Ronaldo expected to lead their line.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Red Devils could line up with their prodigal son back in their ranks.


MNU XI with CR

It is fair to say that Man United now boast a first XI which would be the envy of most clubs in world football, and with plenty of strength in reserve too.

That is particularly true in the forward areas, where Ronaldo is certain to lead the line and the likes of Sancho and Bruno Fernandes - the star man since his own arrival at Old Trafford - are also all but guaranteed regular starts.

It was not long ago that Marcus Rashford was Man United's talisman, but his is the place in the front four perhaps now most at risk once he returns from injury.

Mason Greenwood has started the season in good form and Manchester United will not want to stunt his promising progress, so they will need to find a way to hand him regular first-team football as well, while Anthony Martial - should he stay - provides another option both out wide and at centre-forward.

Ronaldo's arrival is not expected to have an impact on the future of Edinson Cavani at Old Trafford, aside from limiting his starting opportunities, and their presence means that Man United's two main strikers now boast a staggering 1,206 career goals between them at club and international level.

Paul Pogba has started the season in a more advanced role, and has registered five assists in the process, but he may now be forced back into a less effective deeper role given the other attacking options at Solskjaer's disposal.

Solskjaer is understood to still want another central midfielder as well, most likely to take the place of Fred in this XI - Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic being the main backups at the moment.

At the back, Varane will join up with Harry Maguire in Man United's first-choice centre-back partnership, while Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka now appear to be their undisputed first-choice full-backs.

There is more competition for places in goal, though, with Dean Henderson pushing David de Gea for the number one spot.

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Barney Corkhill
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Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring their second goal in the Europa League on February 18, 2021
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