Manchester United goalscoring legend Andy Cole believes the Premier League champions should break the bank if it means bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have been strongly linked with re-signing the 28-year-old Portuguese star, who they sold to Real Madrid in 2009 for £80million.
However, Cole – who scored 121 goals for the Red Devils – still feels the current squad David Moyes inherited from Sir Alex Ferguson stands the champions in good stead to retain their title.
“I think everyone wants a marquee player,” he told MM. “Players like Ronaldo would not come cheap, but he’s mentioned numerous times that he misses Manchester.
“I think, to an extent, one of the reasons he left Manchester was due to the weather, so if he did come back it would be an amazing signing but we just have to wait and see.”
Pressed on whether Moyes should retain the title in his first season at Old Trafford, he conceded the squad is strong enough to replicate the side’s scintillating form of last campaign.
“Why shouldn’t they win the league next season?” he said, after attending the press conference announcing Manchester United’s partnership with Russian airline Aeroflot.
“They won it by 11 points last season so what makes you think it would not be good enough this time.
“I think a couple more additions – whoever David Moyes decides to sign – will make Manchester United very strong.”
UNITED LEGENDS: Andy Cole and Bryan Robson at Aeroflot announcement
Ferguson stood down as Old Trafford supremo after more than 26 years at the club, with Moyes taking up his position as United manager last week.
With rival clubs smelling blood in the water with Ferguson’s departure, Cole feels the upcoming Premier League title race could be one of the closest yet.
“A lot of clubs will be thinking now that Ferguson is gone, we have a great chance of knocking United off their perch, so we just have to wait and see,” he explained.
“I think Chelsea and Manchester City are going to be very strong, as are Arsenal and Tottenham so I think everyone is looking forward to the league – it’s going to be very intriguing.”
Ex-United skipper Bryan Robson – also a club ambassador and nicknamed ‘Captain Marvel’ – feels Moyes does not need to make wholesale changes to the first-team squad.
“He’s going to try and tweak the squad just slightly, which for me is all that needs doing,” he told MM.
“I haven’t been in training so far this year and I haven’t spoken to David so I couldn’t say what he’s going to do.
“It is rumour-central at Manchester United at this time of the year. It’s very difficult for me to comment on transfers and everything as that’s down to the manager.”
Image courtesy of Talksport, via YouTube, with thanks.
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