'Viva Ronaldo' chant dominates at Molineux

Supporters are still delirious at Friday's news that the club would be resigning the Portuguese superstar, 12 years after he left for Real Madrid.

The transfer has already broken all kinds of records on social media and it was clearly the main driver of conversation - and the primary song choice of travelling Reds - prior to the clash at Molineux.

All you can hear from inside Molineux is “Viva Ronaldo” from the @ManUtd fans outside!

— Stewart Gardner (@stewartgardner) August 29, 2021

MUTV's own Stewart Gardner and Sam Homewood took to Twitter to report the song being aired loudly in the Black Country, over an hour before kick-off.

For anyone who doesn't know, the song goes like this:

"Viva Ronaldo, viva Ronaldoooo
Running down the wing
Hear United sing
Viva Ronaldoooo"

And the supporters belting it out in the concourses at Molineux, as captured by our cameraman Tom Reece in the video above, were merely getting started.

Despite first starts for new boys Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho, and a return to the squad for Edinson Cavani, that simple four-line song was virtually all that could be heard from the massed ranks in the Steve Bull Stand as the first half began.

A cardboard cutout of the great man – spotted by journalists and fans travelling to the ground via train – was also present, as were numerous Portugal flags.

On The rattler to wolves 🐺 viva ronaldo 🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/KP2yxsZPBF

— Darren Webb (@United_Webby) August 29, 2021

Received an audio message from a mate on the concourse in the away stand and all that can be heard is 'Viva Ronaldo'. He says: 'It’s still going in the concourse and getting louder. Old men and women belting it out.' #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 29, 2021

Fans will have to wait at least another 13 days before welcoming the 36-year-old back in person, with the Old Trafford clash against Newcastle on 11 September our first game after the international break.

The thought of Ronaldo wearing red on that hallowed turf again sends shivers down the spine, and even manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is tantalised by the prospect, assuming all the necessary paperwork is completed.

“Hopefully Cristiano can come in and show what he’s done in his career,” Ole said prior to the game.

“He’s a more experienced player than when he was here last time. He’s evolved and had an unbelievable career.

“All the talk about how he’s too old - just make it personal and he’ll show what he can do.”