Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Heartwarming Message to Former Club: "i Hope to See You Soon"

• Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as a club legend at Sporting Lisbon as it was where he shot to prominence from
• The five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined Sporting's academy at a tender age of 12 and managed to grow through the ranks before he left in 2003
• The club's academy was recently marking its 20th anniversary and Ronaldo took the time to send them a heartwarming message
• In his message to the Portuguese club, Ronaldo suggested he is planning to wind up his football career with them

Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a heartwarming message to Sporting Lisbon.

Ronaldo is widely regarded as a Sporting legend, having emerged from the Portuguese club to shoot to stardom.

So adored the striker is at the club that they named their academy after the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in honour of his achievements in football.

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According to Sportskeeda, Sporting Lisbon renamed their academy after the United icon back in September 2020 to commemorate his unmatched legacy.

Ronaldo joined Sporting’s youth side at the tender age of 12 and grew through the ranks to make his first-team debut for the club five years later in 2002.

He went on to catch the attention of top European clubs, with Man United eventually snapping him for £12.24 million in the summer of 2003.

Cristiano Ronaldo sends Sporting Lisbon special message

The former Real Madrid star has now taken the time to send Sporting Lisbon a special message on the 20th anniversary of their academy.

In a heartwarming video message to Sporting Lisbon which the club shared via Twitter, Ronaldo promised to "see them soon" in a coded language that implied he is planning to retire at the club.

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“Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Academy, for all the goals you have achieved, and for all the success you have achieved," he said.

"It is a great honor to have the Academy bear my name, and I hope to see you soon," he added.