Cristiano Ronaldo Transfer Rumours Little More Than False Manchester United Hope

As another summer transfer window approaches, the routine speculation linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a Manchester United return arrives with it, but the Old Trafford faithful will be left disappointed with the club's apparent pursuit.

Ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper Agustin Rodriguez was quoted by the Sun (via the Telegraph) this week, asserting both Ronaldo and Iker Casillas will leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of this season:

"I am certain that Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo are going to leave at the end of the season. We'll see as much in the news that comes out in Wednesday's papers."

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One need only take a quick glance at the current climates of the two clubs to see why Ronaldo would make no such return at this current juncture.

Real Madrid are currently fighting to become the first team since 1990 to win back-to-back European Cup/Champions League crowns, while Manchester United are only now on the brink of returning to continental competition.

Despite Rodriguez's claims, there wasn't any commotion regarding Ronaldo's future in midweek to suggest the Portugal captain is—like every summer for the past five years—in a great rush to move back to United.

In fact, the Sun (via Metro) were perhaps the most notable party to purport an alleged comeback, insisting the deal could be done this summer for a gargantuan £75.1 million:

However, the Red Devils' interest in forking out such a mammoth figure would seem strange considering Louis van Gaal's side have only just confirmed their capture of PSV Eindhoven attacker Memphis Depay.

What's more, Van Gaal's former Netherlands charge insists he can mimic Ronaldo in giving the Old Trafford titans a significant boost to their forward line, per the Daily Mail:

Of course, there would also be the small matter of convincing Real Madrid of a sale, too. Persuading one of the world's richest clubs to part ways with the player who has without doubt been the key contributor in successive, superb Champions League campaigns and still enjoying peak football at the age of 30 is sure to be a tough task.

For fairly obvious reasons, his former employers Manchester United are the only club consistently attached with a move for Ronaldo, but until their status once again rivals that of Real, any thought of a reunion seems preposterous.

After all, moving to Madrid has permitted Ronaldo the tools required to claim back-to-back Ballon d'Or trophies along with team success both foreign and domestic.

Los Blancos' poster boy currently has more than three years remaining on his current deal and has even spoken of extending that deal in future, quoted by the Mirror's David Anderson as saying in November 2014:

"

We'll have to speak to Florentino about extending my contract. I'm very happy, enjoying life and in great form. I try to give my best out on the pitch and achieve everything possible for the club because the thing I like the most is winning.

I hope to stay at Real Madrid until the end of my contract when I'm 33 and we'll see if the president wants to extend it for a few more years.

"

Falling behind Barcelona in the Liga race this term may appear to have hurt Real's chances of keeping Ronaldo to some, which is a ridiculous notion when one considers their marked success compared to United's.

Although Van Gaal's men are certainly enjoying a resurgence in English football, it will be some time until they are ready to once again call themselves peers of Los Merengues.

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One can't always account for sentiment and the inner emotions of a player in these sorts of circumstances, but the truth remains the gulf between parties is simply too great at present.

"Never say never" is a phrase all too applicable in this case, and we may yet see Ronaldo back in red one day, but any fans hoping for that to be in the foreseeable future will be sorely disheartened this summer.