Cristiano Ronaldo could have been cheered on by Manchester City fans against Man United this weekend had his transfer this summer gone a different way.
The Portuguese has been given a round by applause by the Etihad faithful in the past – albeit ironically when he was sent off against them in 2008.
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Ronaldo will make his first Manchester derby appearance in over a decade when the two clubs lock horns on Saturday lunchtime – live on talkSPORT.
The Citizens were close to signing CR7 this summer to fix their striker crisis but the forward eventually opted to rejoin the club where he made his name.
Pep Guardiola has admitted City face a challenge to keep Ronaldo – who has scored nine times in 11 games since returning to United – at bay.
But equally the 36-year-old faces his own task to prove how much he has matured as a player during his 12 years away from England at Real Madrid and Juventus respectively.
The Manchester derby is typically a feisty fixture with eight red cards in 48 Premier League matches between United and City.
Ronaldo is actually responsible for two of those and he boasts the unwanted record of being the only player to receive his marching orders twice.
Ronaldo was only red carded on four occasions during his first Old Trafford stint – with two coming against the club’s local rivals.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s first ever straight sending off came in a 3-1 defeat to City in January 2006.
The then-winger reacted furiously after Stephen Jordan avoided punishment for a late tackle on him by flying in high on former United striker Andy Cole.
Speaking after the match, Sir Alex Ferguson said: “The referee’s decided it’s a red card and I think he should look at it again really.
“He’s not touched the player, he’s not got near him.”
United attempted to get the ban rescinded but the FA rejected the appeal and Ronaldo was forced to spend the next three matches sidelined.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon star’s next red card came almost three years later in November 2008 – again against City.
Ronaldo was already on a yellow for a cynical foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips when he inexplicably handballed a corner from Wayne Rooney.
The latter’s 100th club goal proved enough for a 1-0 United win but Ronaldo was fuming to have to leave the Etihad prematurely for a second time.
Ferguson said: “He tried to stop the ball from hitting his face.
“He thought he had heard a whistle, he got a little push as well and it is not as if he punched the ball. The crowd played a part and he got sent off.”
