Cristiano Ronaldo Should Wait 18 Months Before Manchester United Return

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been told to wait 18 months before negotiating a prospective return to English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United. It is a move that makes sense for Ronaldo and United, and advice that he should adhere to.

The Independent's Ian Herbert and Pete Jenson recently broke news of this development, and although the Red Devils aren't exactly strapped for cash, it would save the club a lot of money if Ronaldo rides it out with Real for the time being.

Ronaldo and ex-manager Jose Mourinho had a falling-out late in the La Liga season, and Mourinho has now returned to the EPL himself as the manager of Chelsea.

It remains to be seen how the prolific 28-year-old scorer will mesh with whomever the brass brings in as Mourinho's successor, but there could be a golden opportunity on the horizon should he remain with the Vikings.

Club president Florentino Perez is as aggressive as anyone in the transfer market, and this year's summer window appears to be no exception.

Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale is being highly coveted, and Perez is willing to fork over as much as £85 million for him. Considering that the Spurs are coming off of a fifth-place finish in the EPL table and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, it would be a win-win for Ronaldo.

Not only would a possible, formidable challenger to Manchester United in Tottenham be dealt a huge blow by the departure of Bale, but it would give Ronaldo and Real an explosive weapon on the attack.

That is desperately needed if Real Madrid is meant to contend with Barcelona for La Liga's trophy next season.

This year, the race was decided long before the 38th and final fixture was played, as Barca jumped out to a huge points lead and wound up 15 ahead of Ronaldo's squad in the end (h/t FOX Soccer).

Still, there's nothing that Ronaldo has to prove to United, because he's clearly still in the midst of his prime, and he will still be a dominant force in a year and a half, should he decide to trek back to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have also been linked to Bale through the rumour mill, and it could be enough to intrigue Ronaldo to rejoin the club he began his career with. However, an air of relative uncertainty cloaks the Red Devils at the moment in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as manager.

New boss David Moyes is going to be proactive in continuing the tradition of excellence for United, but the financial cost of landing both Bale and Ronaldo at the moment would be massive.

Ronaldo's current contract ends in June 2015, as Herbert and Jenson point out, and even though Monaco is interested in paying £85 million to land Ronaldo, their sources say that he is not keen on the idea of missing out on a season of Champions League play.

The report also highlights how Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, met with Perez, who put a new £15 million contract on the table. Unfortunately for Real, Ronaldo is displeased that this is the first talk of a contract extension.

Perez is doing his best to make amends, though, because Goal.com reports he's offered a substantial fee to keep Ronaldo around:

Patience is commonly rewarded, and it appears the virtue is bearing its fruits in this instance, too.

Having said that, United can provide Ronaldo with superior joy and offer him more cash if he puts a return to Old Trafford on temporary hold. The money United would save in not paying a transfer fee can be used to bolster his homecoming package.

In the meantime, the possibility of playing with Bale on Real Madrid is palpable, and the impact he would likely have would appease Ronaldo for the time being in terms of the results on the pitch.

Then, Ronaldo could wrap up his career in full-circle style with a return to Manchester United.