Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return to Old Trafford by scoring twice as Manchester United defeated Newcastle 4-1.
The 36-year-old broke the Magpies resistance when he converted from close range just seconds before halftime.
Javier Manquillo leveled the score, only for Ronaldo to restore United's advantage with a superb finish in the 62nd minute. It was like he never left in the first place, and the talisman did not disappoint Thai sports enthusiasts on the
12bet online betting site as probable goalscorer with his well-taken brace.
Bruno Fernandes then scored from outside the box with a spectacular long-range strike that curled into the top corner. Substitute Jesse Lingard capped it on the verge of full-time by adding United’s fourth.
United now sit atop
the Premier League standings, with ten points, level on points with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Everton. Newcastle have collected just one point from their first four games, which keeps them in the relegation zone.
It was even more than Ronaldo had hoped for in his long wait to don the legendary United number seven shirt once more.
“I didn’t expect to score two goals. I expect one but not two. I have to appreciate the fans and what they did to me today. I feel so proud for that,” he told journalists.
“Of course I am happy to score goals, I am not going to deny that but the most important thing is the team and the team played well.
“It is unbelievable. When I started the game I was so nervous, I swear. It is normal because I did not expect that they would sing my name all game.
“I was very nervous but maybe I didn’t show but I was. The reception is incredible but I am here to win games and help the team.
“It was an unbelievable moment. I was super nervous and was thinking last night that I wanted to play good and show I was still capable of helping the team.”
Despite spending more than a decade away from United, where he established himself as one of the game's all-time greats with Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo made it clear how he has always been a huge fan of English football.
“This club is unbelievable and I am so proud. I am going to give everything to make them proud of me,” he said.
“Everyone knows football in England is different than in any part of the world and to be honest it is the most special one. I arrived here at 18 and they treated me unbelievably and that is why I am back.”
During his six years with
United under Alex Ferguson, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner won three Premier League championships and one Champions League.
Ronaldo feels his new club has what it takes to contend for their first EPL title since 2013 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was his former United teammate during his first spell
The boss revealed that Ronaldo had delivered a lecture to his new teammates before the game, where the Portugal striker said: “Everyone has to do his job.”
“We have a fantastic team, a young team, with a fantastic coach but we have to build up confidence.”