Cristiano Ronaldo
Could a return to Manchester United be on the cards for Ronaldo? REUTERS

Cristiano Ronaldo is once again being linked with a move away from Real Madrid, after club legend Alfredo Di Stefano insisted that the booing of the striker was understandable.

Ronaldo has scored 25 times in 23 appearances so far for Madrid, but fans are still upset with the 26 year old for not being able to win a La Liga trophy with the club at the expense of Barcelona.

And as the jeers continue, Di Stefano believes that the fans should be allowed to make their feelings known, as they are the ones who fund the players' wages.

"The whistles against Cristiano Ronaldo? The people in the crowd are the ones who pay, and they are always right," Di Stefano told Agencia Atlas.

"If the spectators demand from the players that they do their utmost and score goals, the players shouldn't question this.

"The fans are always right. If they whistle or jeer someone, it's because they want him to be effective."

Manchester United sold Ronaldo to Madrid in 2009 for a world record fee of £80 million, but it has always been rumoured that if the superstar were to leave Spain, he would like to return to England and play for United again.

Ronaldo himself confirmed as much last year, telling reporters: "I don't close the door [to a move back to the Premier League], so maybe in the future I hope so, because I know the league, I know the players, I know the atmosphere.

"Why not? I hope so one day, but you never know. The team that I like more in England is Manchester but I cannot say that I am going to play there one day because I am very, very happy in Madrid."

While he doesn't look likely to make a return to the club anytime soon, some connections have been made between Jose Mourinho being Ferguson's successor at United and taking the hitman to Old Trafford with him.

Mourinho is widely favoured to be the next manager at United when Ferguson does decide to retire from the role. The former Chelsea gaffer is widely touted as one of the few people who might be capable of withstanding the pressure of what will no doubt be one of the world's most difficult jobs in football.

And if Mourinho does make a move from Madrid to United, he could well want to take Ronaldo with him, where he is a lot less likely to be booed by the home fans.

When he was at United, he was pretty good. Ronaldo's Highlights at Old Trafford:

Manchester United FC Real Madrid