Manchester United FC - Stretford End: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has given Manchester United hope that he could return by admitting he still 'loves' the club. The Real Madrid superstar also claimed he was saddened at the thought of playing his former club when the two teams meet in the last 16 of the Champions League - he will return to Old Trafford for the second leg on March 5th.

"I still have a great feeling of friendship and love for them, they are a team that have done a lot for my career. The fans know me well and I have a lot of friends there that I keep close to my heart. But now I'm defending Real Madrid's colours. It's a bit of a sad feeling I guess. But I want to score, and for us to win, and that would make everything better."

The Portuguese star claimed to be unhappy earlier this season but his former manager at the Red Devils has jokingly described a return to Old Trafford as nothing more than a hope.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has stated that he would love to bring former star Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford but that it is nothing more than "a Christmas wish."

Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford under Ferguson, winning the Champions League and was named the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner.

Ronaldo admitted recently that he misses Alex Ferguson and described him as his "father in football".

Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes

"We have people coming here to admire the scenery and enjoy their crisps."

"When an Italian tells me its pasta on the plate I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen."

"Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in your own field. It's a fact. Right? And it never really works out that way."

"Go and make your mistakes in the first team. You'll learn more in a month in the first team than you will in two years in the reserves."

"You can't applaud a referee."

Sir Matt Busby Quotes

"It was a very simple team talk. All I used to say was 'Whenever possible, give the ball to George'"

"Nobby Stiles a dirty player? No, he's never hurt anyone. Mind you, he's frightened a few!"

"He (George Best) was able to use either foot - sometimes he seemed to have six."

"I never wanted Manchester United to be second to anybody. Only the best would be good enough."

“In all modesty, my summing up of 1955-6 and 1956-7 must be that no club in the country could live with Manchester United.”

"He (Bobby Charlton) was idolized from his twentieth year on."

"If you don't put them in, you can't know what you've got."

"Germany was one thing and facing Old Trafford another. When I approached the ground and moved over the bridge along which our supporters had squeezed fifty abreast in there tens of thousands to shout for us I could scarcely bear to look. I new the ghosts of the babes would still be there, and there they are still, and they will always be there as long as those who saw them still cross the bridge, young, gay, red ghosts on the green grass of Old Trafford."

"Over the years people called several players the new Duncan Edwards. First Dave Mackay, then Bryan Robson. But none of them came close. He was the only player that made me feel inferior."

"I do not worry about conceding goals because I know my forwards will double it at the other end."

"Manchester is my Heaven."

Manchester United FC - Stretford End

Ronaldo admits he 'still loves' Manchester United

Ronaldo return to Manchester United a 'Christmas wish' for Alex Ferguson