Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo could be presented with a transfer opportunity next summer that would see one of his mother's 'dreams' come true.
Ronaldo began his senior career with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal before moving to Old Trafford in 2003 aged just 18. The forward has enjoyed a spectacular career since making the decision to leave his homeland as a teenager, and with his second stint at United looking like it will come to an end next year, he might have the chance to return to his first senior side.
The 37-year-old has endured a difficult campaign so far this season, registering just one goal in eight appearances. He has found himself among the substitutes in recent weeks and has only started on three occasions for Erik ten Hag's men.
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He reportedly explored the option of a return to Sporting over the summer - with the veteran forward desperate to play Champions League football. However, a move away failed to materialise. Despite this, it is thought that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner could still leave the Reds in January, even though his contract doesn’t run out until the end of the season.
Ronaldo's mother, who has made no secret of her desire for Ronaldo to return to the Portuguese top-flight side, has since predicted that her son and 12-year-old grandson, Cristianinho, will end up playing together at Sporting one day.
Dolores Aveiro insisted that it would be a "dream come through" to see her son play for Sporting alongside her grandson, suggesting that Ronaldo would already be back in Portugal if it was 'up to her'.
She recently spoke to a Portuguese magazine about her son - saying that she is desperate for Ronaldo to return to his homeland and play for Sporting once again in her lifetime.
"Cristiano has to come back here. If it was up to me he’d be back already," she said.
"I already told him: ‘Son, before I die I want to see you playing for Sporting again. It didn’t happen this year but perhaps it will next year. But if it’s not him it will be Cristianinho. At his age he plays better than his father. When he was 12 Cristiano didn’t have a trainer but today he’s his son’s teacher."
Dolores went on to claim that Ronaldo's son - who plays in United's academy - is a 'guaranteed' future Sporting player, telling Nova Gente: "He’s already said, ‘Dad when we go to live in Lisbon I want to play for Sporting'. Seeing the two of them playing together at the club would be my dream."
The 67-year-old previously admitted on Sporting Lisbon podcast ADN de Leao that she had asked her son to return to the club.
Ronaldo could be in line to start against Manchester City in the derby at the weekend, but it will depend on the fitness of forward's Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, both of whom who have been sidelined with an injury.
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