Cristiano Ronaldo pictured on Old Trafford pitch ahead of Man Utd debut

Cristiano Ronaldo has been spotted taking on a walk on the Old Trafford pitch a few days before his expected second Manchester United debut against Newcastle this weekend.

Ronaldo completed a sensational return to Manchester last month, 12 years after the left the club in a world record transfer to Real Madrid. His ‘homecoming’ is now the single biggest thing to happen to United at any point in the last decade.

Excitement among fans has reached unbelievable levels as the Newcastle game edges nearer and nearer, with some rumours of match tickets changing hands for up to £2,500.

Ronaldo left international duty with Portugal early and reported for training with United on Wednesday morning in preparation – he could yet start against Newcastle or begin as a substitute.

The 36-year-old made his return to the Old Trafford pitch later on Wednesday, with social media leaking images of him taking a walk on the hallowed turf with former United teammate Wes Brown.

Brown, who assisted Ronaldo’s goal in the 2008 Champions League final, appears regularly on MUTV and the pair were accompanied by a camera operator in a likely feature for the channel.

Ronaldo has also now been added to the enormous mural adorning the front of Old Trafford’s west stand and his face will be one of the first things that fans approaching the stadium from that direction on Saturday afternoon see.

The mural went up earlier in the summer and features a host of United stars, including fellow new signings Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. Women’s team players Ella Toone and Jackie Groenen also prominently feature.

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