Gary Neville tells Man United to sign Real Madrid star...but not Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo has spent six highly successful years at Madrid

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has urged his former club not to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, but go after his Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale instead.

Recent speculation linking Ronaldo with a move away from Madrid has put United at the head of the queue looking to sign the Portuguese forward.

However Neville, who played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford, believes it would be a mistake to resign the 30-year-old.

"I am not sure it is such a good thing for Cristiano to come back," Neville told the Sunday People.

 

"The emotion says come back but do you remember when Newcastle used to bring back their old players to be manager?

"And then Liverpool started doing it and I thought “No. Let’s not start becoming a club like that” and this kind of pining for the past. I don’t really want that.

"I’d prefer us to get Gareth Bale and that’s no disrespect to Cristiano who I think is possibly the biggest talent I have ever played with – not the best player I ever played with – but the biggest talent."

 

Ronaldo is rated as one of United's best ever players

Signing either player would represent a sizeable financial investment on the part of United boss Louis van Gaal.

Madrid signed Ronaldo for £80million back in 2009, while Tottenham got a world record £85.3million for Bale when he moved in 2014.

But despite the signing of Memhpis Depay in the summer and a breakout season for England youngster Jesse Lingard, Van Gaal has said he wants to sign to more wingers in January to solidify his side's title bid.

 

Ronaldo meanwhile, who has just released a film about his life, has dropped a number of hints over recent weeks that he would return to Old Trafford if he were given the chance.

Bale on the other hand has been a target for United several times, and Madrid are said to need to withstand a £100million bid from the Manchester club if they want to keep the Welshman.