Friends reunited in Manchester

Cristiano Ronaldo was briefly reunited with Wayne Rooney at Manchester United's Carrington training complex this lunchtime.

Ronaldo's return following his post-World Cup break coincided with Rooney continuing preparations for his anticipated 45-minute appearance at Macclesfield this evening.

It is the first time the pair have met in a professional setting since their infamous clash during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal in Gelsenkirchen when Rooney was sent off.

However, it appears Rooney has already forgiven his young team-mate after initially suggesting he was 'disappointed' Ronaldo got involved in the fracas after the 20-year-old was ruled to have stamped on Ricardo Carvalho.

Ronaldo avoided the media scrum awaiting his arrival by driving into the training ground via a back entrance, linking up with the majority of United's senior squad for a planned afternoon session from which Rooney has presumably been excused given the 45-minute outing he will make along with Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar at Macclesfield.

Although Ronaldo twice claimed during the World Cup that he wanted to move to Real Madrid, United were quick to quash any suggestion the 21-year-old will be allowed to leave having only just signed a contract which is due to keep him at Old Trafford until 2010.

Instead, Ronaldo will be forced to face down the Premiership boo-boys looking to make him a scapegoat for England's World Cup demise. It is anticipated the former Sporting Lisbon star will make his first appearance of the Red Devils' pre-season campaign in Amsterdam this weekend.

He could also play at Oxford on August 8th and against Seville at Old Trafford five days later before United open their Premiership programme against Fulham on August 20th.

By then, Ferguson should have secured at least one new face in addition to Michael Carrick, who will become United's first summer signing providing he comes through an extensive medical with no problems.

Tottenham have confirmed the fee agreed for Carrick could eventually rise to £18.6million, which would make the 25-year-old the fifth most expensive player in United's history after Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy.