Louis van Gaal has confirmed that he would love to sign Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, after weeks of speculation suggesting that the Real Madrid forward could be on his way back to Old Trafford to play for the club where he made his name, as reported by the Daily Star.

However, Van Gaal also admitted that it would be difficult to tempt Real into selling the Portuguese international, with no suggestion that the Madrid club are willing to end their ties with the Ballon d’Or winner yet.

The news that Ronaldo wanted to move back to Man Utd before his career is over has sent the rumour mill into overdrive.

It’s been suggested that the highly talented wide man has been specifically targeted by Man Utd, and the club are thought to have put £60 million aside for his signature.

Ronaldo is said to be considering his future at Real after a series of transfers pushed his pay packet down below other stars of world football, including Man Utd’s new signings Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria.

Regarding the move, Van Gaal said: “It’s always a discussion in the papers and I don’t think the media shall buy Ronaldo.

“When it is possible, what I said with Falcao, players like Ronaldo give a lot extra to selection or to a team but I don’t think Real Madrid shall sell him.”

Former Manchester United hero Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo, who has recently been heavily linked with a move back to Old Trafford, once suffered the infamous Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

The Portuguese international had just moved to Manchester from Sporting Lisbon, and the manager was not happy at the fact that the player was seemingly trying to play as an individual.

A game against Benfica saw him trying to do too much by himself, in an attempt to prove himself to people in his home country, and Ferguson was not happy with the player after it repeatedly failed to work out.

Ferdinand said in his new book, which has been serialised in The Sun: “We lost and afterwards the manager absolutely destroyed him. “Playing by yourself? Who the hell do you think you are?”

The club are now expecting to turn to Ferguson, who Ronaldo regards as something of a mentor, in an attempt to convince the player to move back to the Premier League.

Man Utd are said to be preparing a £60 million bid for the Ballon d’Or winner.