Ronaldo returns favour to Glazer family seven months after Man Utd return

Cristiano Ronaldo and Tom Brady's Old Trafford chat had already gone viral even before the latter announced a stunning U-turn on his retirement from American Football.

Brady, the most successful player in the history of the NFL was present as Manchester United beat Tottenham 3-2 on Saturday evening.

Close friends with Spurs talisman Harry Kane, Brady made it clear before kick-off that it was there to support his fellow sporting icon - and Glazer employee - Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Here we go! @Cristiano vs @HKane. I might fist pump if you score Harry but I'm riding with @ManUtd today," he posted minutes before proceedings got underway.

And as he has done so many times, Ronaldo took centre stage, rolling back the years to score the 59th hat-trick of the most remarkable career.

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The two veterans then shared a post-match talk on the pitch, with Brady less than committed when he was asked if he was done with the game.

It's likely the 44-year-old was still processing just how influential Ronaldo, 37, had proved he still can be right at the very top of his sport.

Brady of course knows a thing or two about defying father time, from the point he turned 37, he won three Super Bowls, more than 23 franchises have in their history.

His total of seven Lombardi trophies stands above every team in the competition, winning his latest having moved from the New England Patriots to join the Glazer-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.

Following a disappointing final season in New England, there was an overriding feeling that finally age had caught up with the greatest passer in history and a state of gradual decline had set in.

But in his maiden campaign with the Bucs, he proved claims of his demise had been greatly exaggerated as he threw for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns.

The decision from the Glazers to bring Brady to Florida could have backfired - as so many of their acquisitions have done on this side of the Atlantic.

But under the veteran quarterback's leadership the Bucs lifted the Super Bowl at their own stadium, becoming the first team to ever achieve the feat.

At the time, bringing 43-year-old Brady to Tampa was a huge deviation from the recruitment drive at United, which had seen United go for younger players that would be able to develop within their ranks.

"My father had an expression, if you want to know the road ahead, ask the person that's been there," United co-owner Joel Glazer said as the ticker-tape fell last February. "We found that person. Ten Super Bowl appearances, seven victories... Tom Brady."

It also paved the way for United to make the Ronaldo signing, one with many parallels to Brady's 18 months previous.

When Ronaldo signed on the dotted line in August, returning after 12 years away, it felt the equivalent to the Bucs' acquisition of Brady, bringing in one of the greatest players in history to get them over the hump.

There's an argument that had the Glazers not seen first-hand the influence of bringing in an experienced winner to the dressing room, they may not have signed off on Ronaldo's return.

And less than a year later, the boot is firmly on the other foot. Had it not been for Ronaldo's exploits, may Brady have considered strolling off into the sunset?

"I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands," Brady explained, in the post which confirmed his return to the game.

Ronaldo is still to deliver trophies for Manchester United, but he may have repaid the club's owners in the biggest way possible.