Last time Ronaldo played for Man Utd in 2009 Brown was PM, Wolverine was hit movie and Dizzee Rascal was No1
CRISTIANO RONALDO has completed a spectacular £21million move back to Manchester United from Juventus.
The shock move comes 12 years after CR7 left Old Trafford – and the world looked a whole lot different back then.
SunSport understands United have handed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner a two-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams.
Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly played a big role in the 36-year-old’s stunning return, contacting the player personally on Friday morning.
A medical in Lisbon was quickly planned as he flew into the Portuguese capital on his private jet.
And the club announced an agreement with Juventus to seal the transfer, subject to personal terms, a visa, and the completion of the medical.
So with United fans looking forward to the season with one of the greatest players of all time back on board, SunSport had a look back to how the world looked last time he played for the Reds in 2009.
May 27, 2009 to be exact – a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
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CORONA-WHAT?
Let’s start with the biggest thing in 2021 – Covid-19.
In 2009, precious few had ever heard of a coronavirus. The Ebola and Zika viruses had not even hit the world yet, let alone Covid.
However, Swine Flu found its way to these shores with fear widespread across the population. In the end it was considerably less lethal than first thought.
But nothing affected the planet quite like coronavirus.
As Ronaldo scored his last United goal – a 10 May free-kick in the Manchester derby – Covid-19 would have sounded like something out of a thriller movie.
BROWN WAS PM
Dour Labour leader Gordon Brown was just entering his last 12 months in charge of the country as Ronaldo bid farewell to Old Trafford.
After the 2010 general election ended in a hung Parliament and Labour failed to strike a coalition deal with the Lib Dems, Brown announced he would stand down as leader of the party.
That was the last time Labour were in power.
TOP OF THE POPS
Dizzee Rascal’s Bonkers topped the charts the week of Ronnie’s last United game, beating the Black Eyed Peas’ Boom Boom Pow to No1.
Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz were No 3 with their song Number 1.
Eminem was fourth with We Made You and Daniel Merriweather’s Red completed the top five.
Lady Gaga’s Poker Face dropped to ninth in its 19th week in the charts.
ON THE SILVER SCREEN
What a year for cinema!
Avatar became the highest grossing movie of all time after its release in December 2009 as it went on to make $2.74BILLION worldwide.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was No 2 in the list falling just shy of $1bn.
Cult classics Up and The Hangover came out as Sherlock Holmes, 2012, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Twilight: New Moon and Angels and Demons also performed well.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released on May 1 and grossed $374m worldwide.
TOP TV
It was the heyday of reality performance shows as Britain’s Got Talent’s final results and the X-Factor results were the two most-watched UK TV events of the year.
They were watched by 18.2m and 15m people respectively.
Doc Martin, Doctor Who, Jonathan Creek and Whitechapel were also smashing it on the drama front along with Wild at Heart and Ashes to Ashes.
The Wimbledon final – which saw Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick – was the most-watched sporting event at 8.5m.
It was closely followed by Barcelona’s win over Ronaldo’s United in the Champions League final.
IN THE NEWS
Plenty of memorable things happened in 2009.
The MPs’ expenses scandal rocked the nation in a series of revelations that shamed Parliament.
The USA’s first black president Barack Obama’s inauguration took place in January with now-US President Joe Biden alongside him as VP.
Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed a US Airways Airbus on New York’s Hudson River – the inspiration for Tom Hanks Hollywood smash Sully: Miracle on the Hudson.
Jade Goody sadly died as did Michael Jackson, aged 50, at his home in Beverly Hills.
Ashley Cole was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and swearing at police officers in March.
Peter Andre and Katie Price split up after three years of marriage.
And Sir Terry Wogan announced he was standing down from presenting BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.
WHAT ABOUT THE PREM?
Ronaldo left United on a high as the Reds clinched their 11th Premier League title with a point against Arsenal in his last Prem game.
They finished the season on 90 points with Liverpool, Chelsea and the Gunners completing the top four.
West Brom finished bottom and were relegated alongside Newcastle and their north east rivals Middlesbrough.
Steven Gerrard won the FWA Footballer of the Year, Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka won the Golden Boot and Everton’s David Moyes was Manager of the Year.
Read our Transfer news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
COST OF A PINT
It may have only been 12 years ago, but the cost of a pint has shot up since Ronnie last wore United red.
In May 2009, the average cost of a draught lager in the UK was £2.81.
Fast forward to August 2021 and it’s £3.88 – up £1.07. Scandalous.
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