Gary Neville proven wrong about Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United homecoming

The thought of missing out on Champions League football for next season would have not even crossed Cristiano Ronaldo's mind when he sealed his return to Manchester United last summer.

On one of the most dramatic days the transfer window has ever produced, Ronaldo, just hours after being set to join Manchester City, sealed a fairytale return to Old Trafford. It was a remarkable turn of events and no United fan is likely to ever forget August 27, 2021.

His return to Old Trafford increased expectations on the spot. United had already strengthened their squad with the additions of Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, meaning Ronaldo's homecoming was the cherry on the icing on the cake.

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Understandably, the thought of Ronaldo joining a star-studded squad and linking up with fellow countryman Bruno Fernandes in attack was a mouth-watering prospect. Expectations soared and United's supporters were dreaming of returning to the top step of English football's podium.

However, it wasn't just the expectations of the supporters that instantly increased. Former captain Gary Neville was optimistic that Ronaldo's homecoming would move United closer towards winning their first title since 2013, even though he admitted that they would still miss out this time around.

But considering United, with just two games of the Premier League campaign remaining, are 25 points behind current table-toppers and cross-city rivals Manchester City, they find themselves even further away from ending their title drought. Ronaldo has scored a very impressive 24 goals in all competitions, but they are no closer to ending their wait for a 14th Premier League title.

“Absolute