Man Utd owner Joel Glazer has kept transfer promise with Cristiano Ronaldo signing

Joel Glazer has kept his promise by bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United

It was a whirlwind Friday for Manchester United supporters, and one that gave them good reason to hit the town in the evening, as Cristiano Ronaldo's grand Old Trafford return was confirmed. Twelve years after he departed for Real Madrid, one of the club's and the game's greatest ever players is back.

The Portuguese superstar appeared close to doing the unthinkable and joining neighbours Manchester City but just as soon as the Citizens withdrew their interest, Ronaldo was announced as a United player once more.

A statement so popular it crashed the United website read at 5pm on Friday: "Manchester United is delighted to confirm that the club has reached agreement with Juventus for the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, subject to agreement of personal terms, visa and medical.

"Cristiano, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has so far won over 30 major trophies during his career, including five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy, and the European Championship for his native Portugal.

"In his first spell for Manchester United, he scored 118 goals in 292 games. Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester."

That came just hours after manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said in a press conference: "Cristiano has been a legend of this club, he is a legend of this club, he's the greatest player of all time if you ask me."

It soon emerged that United will pay a fee of around £12.9million (€15m) upfront with a further £6.9m (€8m) to be paid to Juventus. That amount enables the Red Devils to prise the 36-year-old away from a Turin 12 months before his contract runs out.

His wages meanwhile, on what is expected to be a two-year contract, will likely make him the club's highest-paid player and one of the best-paid across the continent. It is a low transfer fee but still very much a big-money deal.

And in splashing out the cash to get the five-time Ballon d'Or winner back in Manchester, and crucially in a red shirt, the club's owners the Glazer family have kept a promise they made earlier this year.

Joel Glazer said before the summer window opened: "We want this club to always be successful and win trophies. To compete for trophies requires significant investment