With reports that Cristiano Ronaldo could have been at Old Trafford instead of at Turin this season, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has come out to deny such claims. The Portuguese said his countryman was never set on a return to England.

The pair worked together at Real Madrid when Jose was in charge, and the partnership worked. The 33-year old ended his nine year stay at the Bernabeu this season when he moved to Italy to feature for Juventus. However, the player has always been linked with a return to Manchester United that he left to join Madrid.

Mourinho said Juventus invested in the Ronaldo acquisition in order to land the elusive Champions League since they have won the Scudetto for six or seven times straight. Mou added that Juventus would have been the second biggest spenders after Liverpool and they did this much because they failed to win any of the two Champions League finals they played recently.

Juventus have been group with Manchester United meaning Ronaldo would return to Old Trafford and seek to do damage. Mourinho sees Leonardo Bonucci at the back, Emre Can in the middle of the park and Ronaldo upfront as a tough team but insists his team would give them “two very difficult matches” when they clash.

Juventus was usually the third team in the conversation when speculations about Ronaldo leaving Madrid came up. United has the money, they needed a goalscorer and a star, and they could take him on. Paris St-Germain were another side that had the means and also wanted him due to their continental ambitions but Ronaldo opted to move to Italy. Juve would need him to begin scoring goals now so he can help their drive to land the Champions League.