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Players who played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid
8 famous players have played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ángel Di María, Michael Owen and Casemiro. 4 of them played for Manchester United first; 4 started at Real Madrid.
Did you know?
Ruud van NistelrooyEarliest on this list to play for both: Manchester United (2001–2006), then Real Madrid from 2006.
CasemiroLatest on this list: Real Madrid first, then Manchester United from 2022.
Cristiano RonaldoMost separate spells: 3 across the two clubs (Manchester United 2003–2009, 2021–2022; Real Madrid 2009–2018).
All 8 players, most famous first
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Portugal · Forward · born 1985- Manchester United
- 2003–2009, 2021–2022
- Real Madrid
- 2009–2018
Ángel Di María
Argentina · Midfielder · born 1988- Manchester United
- 2014–2015
- Real Madrid
- 2010–2014
Michael Owen
England · Forward · born 1979- Manchester United
- 2009–2013
- Real Madrid
- 2004–2005
- Casemiro
Brazil · Midfielder · born 1992- Manchester United
- 2022–2026
- Real Madrid
- 2013–2022
Raphaël Varane
France · Defender · born 1993- Manchester United
- 2021–2024
- Real Madrid
- 2011–2021
- Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands · Forward · born 1976- Manchester United
- 2001–2006
- Real Madrid
- 2006–2010
- Manchester United
- 2010–2014
- Real Madrid
- 2014–2015
- Gabriel HeinzeArgentina · Defender · born 1978
- Manchester United
- 2004–2007
- Real Madrid
- 2007–2009
Years are club stints from Wikidata (snapshot 2026-09-28); a loan that runs straight into a transfer is shown as one stint. “from YEAR” means no end year is recorded — it is not a claim about a current club.
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Questions
How many famous players have played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid?
8 in our data, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ángel Di María, Michael Owen and Casemiro. The list covers famous footballers only — players covered by at least 45 language editions of Wikipedia — so it is not every player who ever wore both shirts.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both clubs?
In our data, Ruud van Nistelrooy: Manchester United (2001–2006), then Real Madrid (2006–2010).
Where does this list come from?
Club careers from Wikidata, the open database behind Wikipedia (public domain, CC0), snapshot 2026-09-28. Senior spells count, loans included when Wikidata records them; youth and reserve teams do not. Found a mistake? Tell us via the About page.