Cristiano Ronaldo is still adored by Manchester United fans but the Real Madrid star is a different player now... he's a predator, not an exciting winger

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Eight years have passed since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid, yet the former's fanbase still sing his name.

In that time, the Portugal forward has elevated his game to new heights which was exemplified by achieving a La Liga and Champions League double last season.

Despite his ongoing success at Real, reports in Spain claim that Ronaldo wants out of the Santiago Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still revered by Manchester United supporters despite leaving in 2009

Ronaldo swapped Manchester for Madrid in a then world-record £80million move to Real

And the Portugal star has continued to elevate his game while shining in the Spanish capital

The 32-year-old has told Madrid he will leave Spain for good if convicted of tax fraud this summer. The World Player of the Year does not believe he has been treated fairly over claims in Spain that he owes the taxman £13million.

Speculation over Ronaldo's future has left some United fans hoping for a romantic return to Old Trafford this summer, but what would it be like if it did happen?

Memories of a swashbuckling winger in the mould of George Best and Ryan Giggs would be just that, for a start.

The 2003-09 CR7 is no more. That period of Ronaldo's career under Sir Alex Ferguson is a thing of the past. The lung-bursting dribbles, accompanied with multiple blood-twisting stepovers, are now not part of his game. As time has gone by, he has refined it to become the best No 9 in the world.

The proof is in the numbers. One hundred and 18 goals in 292 Manchester United appearances compared to 406 in 394 games for Real.

The fact that the iconic No 7 is averaging a goal every game highlights the predatory instinct of Ronaldo.

However, Ronaldo has told Real he will quit if he is convicted of tax fraud this summer

The 32-year-old forward has been left very angry by the £13m tax-fraud allegations

He has been linked with a return to United, but the player's game has changed since 2009

The swashbuckling winger that graced Old Trafford is no more - as he refined his style of play

At Real, he still plays on the left of a front three in a 4-3-3 formation but surrounded by the energetic left back Marcelo and forward partners Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, Ronaldo can concentrate on doing what he does best: scoring goals. 

Benzema is particularly key to Ronaldo's success. Despite being their main striker, the France international is Ronaldo's foil — often doing a lot of the hard work which he benefits from. This month's Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff was testament to that.

In the second half of that showpiece, manager Zinedine Zidane altered his formation to a narrow 4-4-2 diamond with Ronaldo joining Benzema up front — yet it was the latter who would often drop deeper.

At international level, Portugal — a country known for producing flamboyant midfielders and wide men — have long yearned for a centre forward. At Euro 2016 and the current Confederations Cup, Ronaldo fills that role and to good effect, too.

If he was to re-join United, current Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho would get a player he would have to build his team around up front — much akin to the incorporation of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the season just gone.

Ronaldo's last act for Real was to score twice in the Champions League final against Juventus

Those strikes took his goal tally for the club to an incredible 406 in 394 games

Ronaldo has moulded his game to become the best No 9 in the world

For Portugal too, Ronaldo plays as a centre forward with his predatory instincts key for them

The signing could pose questions about the futures of rising talents such as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, but Mourinho knows he would get a proven goalscorer — something he has bemoaned a lack of at the Theatre of Dreams.

Speaking about his attacking talent in April, Mourinho said: 'They are good players, they are creative players, they can create, but naturally they are not the kind of guy that is a killer.'

Ronaldo certainly is that. In 265 La Liga games at Real, he has 285 goals — a minutes per-goal-ratio of one every 80 minutes. His shot conversion rate is 15.92 too — all statistical improvements from the teenage prodigy that played in the Premier League.

His six years in England's top flight yielded 84 goals in 196 appearances at a minutes per goal ratio of 173 and shot conversion rate of 10.07. 

Ronaldo has a shot conversion rate of 15.92 at Real - an improvement on his 10.07 United figure

Those numbers show the striking improvement in Ronaldo, which is most evident in him more than halving his minutes-per-goal ratio.

Ronaldo's assists per game have also improved in Spain — he's averaging one every three games (82 in 265 matches) compared to one every six in England (34 in 196).

Viva Ronaldo, viva Ronaldo. Running down the wing, here United sing, viva Ronaldo...

He may not be running down the wing anymore, but his performances would herald his name being reverberated by United supporters at Old Trafford.

Eight years on after leaving Old Trafford, United's supporters still sing Ronaldo's name