CaughtOffside today report that secret talks are going on between Manchester United and Real Madrid to broker a deal worth a staggering £70 million to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester. It is believed Real are willing to let the Portuguese Ace go to help them in moves for the Colombian pair James Rodríguez and Radamel Falcao, and Florentino Perez is eager to accommodate the two however he can.

Though it is heard every summer that we are back in for Ronaldo, and last summer it was believed to be one of the deals David Moyes was looking to make as a statement of his intentions, the credibility of a move rises each time it is mentioned. On top of the reports today, MUFCLatest.com writer Dan Green had the good fortune of meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister whilst on holiday, and asked the obvious question ‘Is he coming back to United?’. The answer? ‘We still have a place in Manchester’. Where that is not a yes or a no answer, she isn’t about to tell a lad she hasn’t met before a definite answer, and that is as encouraging as you can get in my opinion.

It is also believed that, to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, Real Madrid must appease FIFA and their new rules if they are to go on a similar spending spree to last season, where they paid out over £120 million on three players, Gareth Bale, Asier Illaramendi and Isco. United too are looking at the financial implications of a move for their former star, with a pot of a reported £200 million available, and only £60 million used so far a bid is affordable, and the commercial aspects of any transfer being heavily considered by the Glazers.

The rumours can sometimes become tiresome with regards to the return of Ronaldo, but the evidence on show this time around looks to be encouraging towards him moving back, and still leave money for the much-needed central midfielder and central defender to be brought in during this window too. Any United fan that says they wouldn’t want him back would certainly be lying to themselves and others, his 118 goals in 292 appearances between 2003 and 2009 helped herald in the most successful period of the clubs history (with regards to trophies per year), and his record in Spain only makes the desire greater, 252 goals in 246 games for Madrid, to get him back in the famous red shirt. Nothing is done until the contract is signed and he is officially announced, but as far as pre confirmation buzz goes, this is enough to make my mouth water and the funny, tingly feeling in my stomach to grow. He may well just return yet.