'99 percent sure Ronaldo will return to Manchester United': Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra (R) and Cristiano Ronaldo (L) were teammates at Manchester United until 2009

Juventus full-back Patrice Evra has revealed that Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo told him he would never rule out a return to Manchester United due to his love for the club, according to Manchester Evening News. Evra and the Portuguese forward were teammates at Old Trafford up until he made the then-world record £80 million transfer to the Spanish giants in 2009.

In recent months, the 30-year-old has cast a doubt on his future with Los Blancos and has long been linked with a return to Manchester, where he earned his global recognition under the guidance of former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Louis Van Gaal had even confirmed last week that he would be interested in bringing the Portugal captain back to the club for his second spell.

Earlier this month, Evra had told that Ferguson had been ‘99 percent’ sure that Ronaldo would be returning to the Theatre of Dreams in 2013, and the France international has now revealed that his former teammate would never rule out on such a move.

“I've talked to him a lot [about returning],” Evra said in an interview.

“And he was like, 'For the moment I don't know -- you know the way I love Man United.'”

Evra even recalled the night on which the three-time Ballon d’Or winner made his return to his old club as a Madrid player. Ronaldo and his side knocked the Red Devils out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage in 2013.

“I remember him saying when we played against Madrid at Old Trafford, he said, 'All night I couldn't sleep. My nose even bled for the emotion, too much emotion.'” he added.

“And I remember when he came on the pitch, I saw the way the fans stood for him. It was just amazing.”

Rafa Benitez incapable of handling strong characters in the dressing room

Los Blancos’ all-time leading goalscorer has been suggested to be having an unhappy relationship with coach Rafa Benitez. Ronaldo has criticized his perceived negative style of play and had stated that the club will ‘win nothing with him this season’.

Former Inter Milan defender Marco Materazzi appears to be having the same opinion with Ronaldo about Benitez. The Spanish coach’s ability to manage a dressing room full of stars has come under question recently after reports of a poor relationship with numerous star players including Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez and Ronaldo.

Materazzi also had difficulties with Benitez during his short spell in charge of the Serie A outfit during the first half of the 2010-11 campaign. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Materazzi believes history is repeating itself and the former Liverpool boss is having problems controlling the ‘Â?strong characters’ in his dressing room.

“I was watching the Clasico on Saturday and I felt like Cristiano Ronaldo, [Steven] Gerrard, [John] Terry and Paolo Cannavaro - all people with strong characters who never got on well with that man there,” he said.