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Cristiano Ronaldo is coming home: Where are his Manchester United teammates from 2008-09 now?

Sir Alex Ferguson bought a young Portuguese winger from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. The rest is history which needs no retelling. The boy, who went on to become a legend, has made a dramatic return to the Theatre of Dreams hoping for a memorable Last Dance. However, a lot has changed since Cristiano's time at Old Trafford. None of his teammates including Nani and Rooney remain in the Red Devils' dressing room anymore. Here is a look back at Ronaldo's teammates at Manchester United during his final season in the Premier League. 
Sir Alex Ferguson bought a young Portuguese winger from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. The rest is history which needs no retelling. The boy, who went on to become a legend, has made a dramatic return to the Theatre of Dreams hoping for a memorable Last Dance.
Sir Alex Ferguson bought a young Portuguese winger from Sporting Lisbon in 2003. The rest is history which needs no retelling. The boy, who went on to become a legend, has made a dramatic return to the Theatre of Dreams hoping for a memorable Last Dance.
Online Desk
Updated on: 
2 min read
Edwin van der Sar: Manchester United's iconic goalkeeper is now 50 years old! His last game for United was against Barcelona in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final on 28 May 2021 and currently works as the chief executive of AFC Ajax. (Photo | AFP)
Edwin van der Sar: Manchester United's iconic goalkeeper is now 50 years old! His last game for United was against Barcelona in the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final on 28 May 2021 and currently works as the chief executive of AFC Ajax. (Photo | AFP)
Gary Neville: Captain of the side when Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, Gary Neville announced his retirement after almost playing 20 years at Old Trafford in 2011. Neville never played for another club in his entire senior career and the 46-year old is now a football pundit after a brief stint as manager with Valencia. (Photo | AFP)
Gary Neville: Captain of the side when Ronaldo left for Real Madrid, Gary Neville announced his retirement after almost playing 20 years at Old Trafford in 2011. Neville never played for another club in his entire senior career and the 46-year old is now a football pundit after a brief stint as manager with Valencia. (Photo | AFP)
Patrice Evra: The left-back left Manchester United in 2014, after having played a total of 273 games for the Red Devils. The Frenchman retired from professional football in July 2019, after representing Juventus, Marseille and West Ham United. (Photo | AP)
Patrice Evra: The left-back left Manchester United in 2014, after having played a total of 273 games for the Red Devils. The Frenchman retired from professional football in July 2019, after representing Juventus, Marseille and West Ham United. (Photo | AP)
Rio Ferdinand: Another iconic United star, retired in 2015. Ferdinand spent a season with Queens Park Rangers after his United contract expired and had a brief stint in boxing before returning to the football world as a television commentator/expert. (Photo | AP)
Rio Ferdinand: Another iconic United star, retired in 2015. Ferdinand spent a season with Queens Park Rangers after his United contract expired and had a brief stint in boxing before returning to the football world as a television commentator/expert. (Photo | AP)
Dimitar Berbatov: This former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo represented Kerala Blasters in ISL during the 2017-18 season. The skilful Bulgarian left Manchester United in 2012 to join Fulham and later played for AS Monaco and PAOK in Greece before landing in India. Berba officially retired from professional football in 2019 and remains the leading scorer of his country at the international level. (Photo | AP)
Dimitar Berbatov: This former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo represented Kerala Blasters in ISL during the 2017-18 season. The skilful Bulgarian left Manchester United in 2012 to join Fulham and later played for AS Monaco and PAOK in Greece before landing in India. Berba officially retired from professional football in 2019 and remains the leading scorer of his country at the international level. (Photo | AP)
Wayne Rooney: The record goalscorer for both the England national team and Manchester United is younger to Ronaldo but has already hung his boots. Post-retirement, the iconic striker Rooney was appointed as part of a four-man interim coaching team of Derby County and currently is the manager of the EFL team. (Photo | AP)
Wayne Rooney: The record goalscorer for both the England national team and Manchester United is younger to Ronaldo but has already hung his boots. Post-retirement, the iconic striker Rooney was appointed as part of a four-man interim coaching team of Derby County and currently is the manager of the EFL team. (Photo | AP)
Ryan Giggs: Vice-Captain of the United team when Ronaldo left, the Welsh legend spent his entire career at Old Trafford and become the club's gaffer for a brief period. Giggs, 47, is the manager of his homeland's national team after announcing his retirement as a player on 19 May 2014. (Photo | AP)
Ryan Giggs: Vice-Captain of the United team when Ronaldo left, the Welsh legend spent his entire career at Old Trafford and become the club's gaffer for a brief period. Giggs, 47, is the manager of his homeland's national team after announcing his retirement as a player on 19 May 2014. (Photo | AP)
Park Ji-sung: The first Asian footballer to have won the UEFA Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson brought the gifted midfielder to England in 2005. Having made 134 appearances across competitions for United, Park decided to call it a day at the end of 2013–2014 that he spent with PSV Eindhoven on loan from QPR. (Photo | AFP)
Park Ji-sung: The first Asian footballer to have won the UEFA Champions League, Sir Alex Ferguson brought the gifted midfielder to England in 2005. Having made 134 appearances across competitions for United, Park decided to call it a day at the end of 2013–2014 that he spent with PSV Eindhoven on loan from QPR. (Photo | AFP)
Nemanja Vidic: The Serbian defender, who spent eight years at the Theatre of Dreams is among the only three players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. Having played 211 times under Ferguson, Vidic made a switch to Serie A side Inter Milan before announcing his retirement. (Photo | AP)
Nemanja Vidic: The Serbian defender, who spent eight years at the Theatre of Dreams is among the only three players to win the Premier League Player of the Season award twice, alongside Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. Having played 211 times under Ferguson, Vidic made a switch to Serie A side Inter Milan before announcing his retirement. (Photo | AP)
Michael Carrick: The former captain of the Red Devils played 12 years at Old Trafford and is part of the club's coaching faculty currently. It was in 2017–18 season that he made his 464th and final appearance for United before taking up the new role. (Photo |AP)
Michael Carrick: The former captain of the Red Devils played 12 years at Old Trafford and is part of the club's coaching faculty currently. It was in 2017–18 season that he made his 464th and final appearance for United before taking up the new role. (Photo |AP)
Nani: Cristiano's long-time partner in goal poaching at the international level, Nani is still an active player at 34, leading Orlando City SC in MLS. Nani won absolutely everything including the UCL and Club World Cup during his eight years at United before joining Turkey's Fenerbahce in 2015-16. The winger made 147 appearances in all for the English giants. (Photo | AP)
Nani: Cristiano's long-time partner in goal poaching at the international level, Nani is still an active player at 34, leading Orlando City SC in MLS. Nani won absolutely everything including the UCL and Club World Cup during his eight years at United before joining Turkey's Fenerbahce in 2015-16. The winger made 147 appearances in all for the English giants. (Photo | AP)
Paul Scholes: Another English great to have known no clubs but United, Scholes scored 103 times from 499 outings in his decades-long stay that started in 1993. Known for his lethal long rangers, Scholsey co-owns second-tier side Salford City with his chums from playing days and currently works as a football expert for television. (Photo | AFP)
Paul Scholes: Another English great to have known no clubs but United, Scholes scored 103 times from 499 outings in his decades-long stay that started in 1993. Known for his lethal long rangers, Scholsey co-owns second-tier side Salford City with his chums from playing days and currently works as a football expert for television. (Photo | AFP)
Carlos Tevez: The Argentine made a permanent switch to join United's local rivals City, after having played 63 times in the red jersey during a loan deal. He lifted the UCL with the Devils but was unhappy that he was not offered a permanent deal by the club. Tevez had returned to his homeland with Boca Juniors after a successful time in Europe and China. Despite leaving Boca earlier this year, there is no news of his retirement yet. (Photo | AFP)
Carlos Tevez: The Argentine made a permanent switch to join United's local rivals City, after having played 63 times in the red jersey during a loan deal. He lifted the UCL with the Devils but was unhappy that he was not offered a permanent deal by the club. Tevez had returned to his homeland with Boca Juniors after a successful time in Europe and China. Despite leaving Boca earlier this year, there is no news of his retirement yet. (Photo | AFP)
John O'Shea: The Reading coach joined United at the age of 17 and made 393 outings in all for the team. One of Ireland's all-time greats, the 40-year-old was active till the 2018-19 season in which he represented the club he is presently working with. (Photo | AFP)
John O'Shea: The Reading coach joined United at the age of 17 and made 393 outings in all for the team. One of Ireland's all-time greats, the 40-year-old was active till the 2018-19 season in which he represented the club he is presently working with. (Photo | AFP)
Danny Welbeck: Born and brought up in Manchester, Welbeck made his way up through United youth teams to make his senior debut in 2008. He scored 20 goals for United winning the Club World Cup between 2008-2014, with two stints of loan at Sunderland and Preston North End. Later, in 2014, he was sold to Arsenal where he spent the next five years failing to make big impact. Eventually, he was signed by Watford in 2019 and currently he is playing for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Danny Welbeck: Born and brought up in Manchester, Welbeck made his way up through United youth teams to make his senior debut in 2008. He scored 20 goals for United winning the Club World Cup between 2008-2014, with two stints of loan at Sunderland and Preston North End. Later, in 2014, he was sold to Arsenal where he spent the next five years failing to make big impact. Eventually, he was signed by Watford in 2019 and currently he is playing for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Wayne Rooney
Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo
Old Trafford
Sir Alex Ferguson
Paul Scholes
Ryan Giggs
Nani
Manchester United team
Cristiano Ronaldo teammates

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