MANCHESTER, England —While one of Manchester United’s former stars — Cristiano Ronaldo — returns for today’s Champions League final-16 match against Real Madrid at Old Trafford, the club’s longest-serving player — Ryan Giggs — is expected to play the 1,000th match of a glittering career.
When Ronaldo left Manchester in 2009, few would have expected Giggs, a 39-year-old midfielder, to still be playing at the highest level four years later.
The game will mark Ronaldo’s return since becoming the world’s most expensive player by swapping Manchester for Madrid in a transfer worth $131 million.
The two teams played to a 1-1 tie in the first leg of the aggregate series.
“As a European night I don’t think you can get any bigger than this one,” said United manager Alex Ferguson, who confirmed that Phil Jones won’t play against Real Madrid after injuring his ankle in a recent FA Cup win over Reading.