Cristiano Ronaldo would be welcomed with open arms at Manchester United, but the forward might not fit into Louis van Gaal's "disciplined" system.
That's the opinion of the Sunday People's Steve Bates and the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel, who were speaking on Sunday Supplement.
Fresh speculation has linked Ronaldo with a return to United after van Gaal revealed the Portugal captain is one of several players the club is interested in. Real Madrid's 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona in El Clasico has also prompted talk over Ronaldo's future and his relationship with manager Rafa Benitez.
Van Gaal has insisted he is an innovator in football, but the Sunday Supplement panel are not convinced Ronaldo would fit in
"A lot of Madrid people think they've had the best of Ronaldo - six great years with an unbelievable goal-scoring record, but it's not going to get any better than that," Bates said. "Would a return to United be a good thing? I'm not totally convinced.
"But if he becomes available then I'm sure United would have to go for him. Van Gaal is a rigid coach [though], he likes it his way. Whether he would make an adjustment for Ronaldo? Possibly. But I think he would try to make Ronaldo fit into his system, rather than the other way around.
"But he'd be welcomed with open arms at United, they still sing his name now. They are crying out for that excitement. If there's any club that can afford to write off £60m, it's United."
Samuel believes Ronaldo's choice of club may be limited should he decide to leave, as Real Madrid would demand a significant fee for a player over the age of 30.
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"I don't think he actually will have a lot of options, depending on what Real Madrid want for him," added Samuel. "When people talk about £60m or whatever, he's 30 years old, so you are writing off £60m because there is not going to be re-sale value.
"The thing with Manchester United is Sir Alex Ferguson. Ronaldo regarded him as a father figure and huge influence on his career. But he wouldn't be managed by Ferguson now, you are going to be managed by van Gaal.
"If you look at his team, they are making Real Madrid look like the Harlem Globetrotters at the moment. It's a very disciplined, functional team. That is how United are getting their results. It's not the free-wheeling Manchester United of old.
Ronaldo leaves the pitch as Barcelona players celebrate their 4-0 win at the Bernabeu
"You can't have one guy out on the wing, and say 'do what you like.' That's not how the system under van Gaal works.
"They do what Louis van Gaal likes, and what he likes is a disciplined set-up that attacks when possible, but goes sideways a lot, that waits for its opportunities, and then gets at you. So it's not the same club."
PSG could be an alternative option for Ronaldo, raising the possibility of a partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and the Daily Telegraph's Paul Hayward thinks it could be the more likely destination.
Ronaldo failed to find the net against Barca in El Clasico
"PSG was always the logical final step for him," said Hayward. "The money was unlimited and it is an up and coming idea as a club. Ibrahimovic would probably lose out in that one, but I still don't see him coming back to Manchester United.
"There's a political game going on between Ronaldo and Florentino Perez around Benitez. It was an inexplicable appointment at Real Madrid. It was contrary to what Real Madrid have become, which is an entertainment factory.
"As I understand it, Ronaldo was irked by that from the beginning. I've never thought it a possibility for him personally, I don't see why he would want to go back to Premier League football because it requires a huge physical commitment, and would mean leaving the Iberian lifestyle."
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